Parma – Inter Milan
With just a single point separating them from the relegation zone, Parma host current league leaders Inter and hope to secure important points in the relegation battle with a disciplined performance. The hosts have picked up seven points from five games, including a goalless draw with Hellas Verona. Gigi Buffon was recently convinced that Cristian Chivu’s team could avoid relegation despite the tight table situation.
Inter travel to the Stadio Ennio Tardini with the self-confidence of the league leaders, but only got heavy legs on Wednesday in the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan in the Coppa Italia. The 1-1 draw, scored by Çalhanoğlu, once again demonstrates the Nerazzurri’s mentality. Despite the multiple demands on their time, they want to maintain their three-point lead over Napoli. Inter won the last direct encounter 3-1 in December – a clear indication of their favoritism.
Parma – Inter Infos
- Venue: Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
- Date and Time: 05.04.2025, 18:00
- Competition: Serie A (Regular Season – 31)
Parma Form & Balance Check
Parma have been stable in the relegation battle recently. They have picked up seven points from their last five league games, including a remarkable 2-0 home win over Bologna. Although the games were often low-scoring, which indicates a disciplined style of play and solid defense, they did at least secure a goalless draw against Verona recently.
It is also noticeable that Cristian Chivu’s team rarely score in the first half. In the last five encounters, the action before the break tended to be rather leisurely. Nevertheless, Parma are keeping their chances of moving up the table from 16th place. However, with only a one-point lead over 17th place, the situation remains tense.
Parma manager Chivu is likely to stick with the 4-1-4-1 formation that held up well in the 0-0 draw with Verona. Suzuki will be in goal with a back four of Delprato, Valenti, Valeri and Vogliacco.
Keita will lead the defensive midfield, while Bernabé, Sohm, Estévez and Man could play in front of him. Bonny is the only striker in the squad. There are significant absences in the forward line: Benedyczak (ankle surgery) and Mihăilă (muscular problems) are unavailable, as is Osorio in defense. These personnel bottlenecks significantly complicate Parma’s offensive options.
Inter Form & Balance Check
Inter are currently at the top of the table and have four wins and a draw from their last five games. The mental strength of coach Simone Inzaghi’s team was evident in the 1-1 draw in the Coppa Italia derby against AC Milan, when Çalhanoğlu equalized with a long-range shot after falling behind early. They are also hard to stop in the league: Frattesi and Arnautović scored in the 2-1 win against Udinese, while the injured Lautaro Martínez was rested.
Another success was the 2-0 win at Atalanta, where Inter emphasized their strong defense. However, some players are not fully fit: Taremi’s injury (adductor) will keep him out of the lineup for the next three weeks, Barella has muscular problems, and Martínez is injured. Nevertheless, the squad remains deep enough to defend the three-point lead over Napoli.
Inter are expected to continue with the tried and tested 3-5-2. In defense, de Vrij, Bastoni and Bisseck can be expected in the back three. Dumfries (thigh) and Zieliński (calf) are out with injuries, with Taremi missing out as well with adductor problems.
In central midfield, Frattesi, Çalhanoğlu, Asllani, Mkhitaryan and Barella could provide the necessary balance. Thuram is likely to operate as a target man up front, while Correa could take on the role of second striker. Arnautović is available as a substitute. It will also be interesting to see how Inter tactically compensate for the loss of Taremi.
Parma – Inter Head to Head Statics
In the last five meetings between Parma and Inter, the Milan side have won four times while one game ended in a draw. In the last league game in December 2024, Inter won 3-1. Prior to that, there was a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time win for the Nerazzurri in the cup.
It is worth knowing that Parma scored in four of these five games, but never left the pitch as the winner. Inter regularly show their offensive strength in the second half in particular: the last few games have usually produced more goals there than in the first 45 minutes. So the final phase is likely to be a challenge for Parma in particular.
