Parma – SSC Napoli
Only one point separates Napoli from their closest rivals Inter, so their trip to the Stadio Ennio Tardini will be a real test for their title hopes. Antonio Conte’s side could take a big step towards the Scudetto on Sunday, while Cristian Chivu’s Parma, currently 16th in the table, need every point they can get to escape the relegation zone.
Napoli won the first leg 2-1, and there has been no draw in the last five direct encounters, with at least two goals scored in each game. It is worth noting that Parma have conceded most of their goals in this series after the break, which is exactly where Lukaku, Raspadori, and McTominay – with eleven goals between them this season – tend to strike. Both teams will be without key players, with Parma also missing defensive stalwart Valenti due to suspension and Napoli without Lobotka, Buongiorno and Juan Jesus. However, almost all of the key players are available in attack, so the stakes remain high: Napoli are chasing the title, while Parma are fighting for survival.
Parma – Napoli info
- Venue: Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma
- Date and time: May 18, 2025, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 37)
Parma form & record check
Parma comes into the match with just one win in its last five games and a recent 1-2 defeat against Empoli. Valenti’s sending-off underscored the team’s nervousness, as did its lack of efficiency up front, for example in the 0-1 defeat against Como.
However, the team can cause problems for strong opponents: they drew 2-2 away at Lazio and beat Juventus 1-0 at home. It is striking that in none of the last five games did they score more than one goal before the break, but they also hardly scored any goals after the break. Chivu remains true to his cautious approach, wants to avoid falling behind early and hopes that a single home win will save the season.
Chivu is likely to opt for a 3-5-2 formation again. Del Prato and Leoni will defend in front of goalkeeper Suzuki, with Valenti suspended, so Coulibaly could move into the back three. Hainaut and Valeri will operate on the wings, with Sohm, Keita, and Ondrejka organizing the play in the center.
Bonny and Pellegrino are likely to start up front, with Đurić remaining the wild card option. The list of absentees, which includes Bernabé, Mihăilă, Cancellieri, and Charpentier, limits creativity in particular, but Chivu is unlikely to tinker with the system.
Napoli form & record check
Napoli arrive with four wins and a 2-2 draw against Genoa under their belt. The team has scored at least once in all five league games and has never been behind at either half-time or full-time – proof of their consistency.
The absence of Lobotka and Buongiorno could hamper the team’s build-up play, with Billy Gilmour likely to start again. Nevertheless, the attacking trio of McTominay, Raspadori, and Lukaku are consistently delivering. With only a one-point lead over Inter, however, the league leaders cannot afford any more slip-ups, especially as small lapses in concentration, such as those against Genoa, were immediately punished.
Conte sticks with a 3-5-2 formation. Meret is in goal, with Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani and Olivera forming a back three. Spinazzola and Politano provide depth on the wings.
In the center, Gilmour replaces the injured Lobotka, flanked by Anguissa and all-rounder McTominay. Up front, Raspadori and Lukaku, who have different profiles but the same instinct for goal, will be looking to make an impact. Buongiorno and Juan Jesus are still out, but the rest of the starting lineup is unchanged.
H2H Parma – Napoli Head-to-head & statistics
There has been no draw in the last five head-to-head matches: Napoli won three games and Parma two. The most recent encounter in August ended 2-1 in favor of the southern Italians.
All games had at least two goals, but never more than one at halftime, which is why the matches only picked up speed after the break. In the last three encounters, there were at least two goals after the break, but the total number of goals always remained below 3.5.
Constant: Parma conceded a goal after the break in each of these games, while Napoli scored in both halves. This means that the second half is likely to be decisive on Sunday, and the probability of both teams scoring remains high.
