Parma will be aiming to pull further away from the Serie A relegation zone when they host Benevento this weekend.

The Gialloblu's 2-1 win over Genoa on Monday lifted them three points clear of the bottom three and just one point and one place behind Sunday's opponents.

Match preview

The three points earned at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, courtesy of a brace from Gervinho, was only Parma's second league victory of the season and came at a vital time against their fellow strugglers.

After an 11th-placed finish in 2019-20, they have found life tough this season after appointing Fabio Liverani as manager in the summer.

The team have struggled for goals, with last season's top scorer Andreas Cornelius yet to get off the mark in the new campaign.

Parma average the lowest amount of shots per game in the division and only Genoa and Crotone have netted on fewer occasions.

However the Gialloblu have suffered defeat in just one of their four home games this season, and that came on the opening day against Napoli.

Yet Benevento will travel to Il Tardini with confidence after taking a point off reigning champions Juventus in a 1-1 draw last Saturday.

Gaetano Letizia equalised on the stroke of half time after Alvaro Morata had put Juve ahead, and Gli Stregoni battled well in the second half to keep the scores level.

After finishing rock bottom of Serie A and 17 points adrift of safety in their only other top-flight campaign in 2017-18, Benevento are making a much better fist of survival this time around under Pippo Inzaghi.

Only Torino have conceded more goals than the Campania-based side, but they have ground out victories against Sampdoria, Bologna and Fiorentina and are nearly halfway to their points total from two years ago already.

Parma Serie A form: LDDDLW
Parma form (all competitions): WDDLWW

Benevento Serie A form: LLLLWD
Benevento form (all competitions): LLLLWD

Team News

Parma's win over Genoa came at a cost as Alberto Grassi, Riccardo Gagliolo and Vincent Laurini all suffered injuries that are likely to rule them out of Sunday's game.

With Giuseppe Pezzella also out injured, it could mean that Giacomo Ricci is handed a first appearance of the season at left-back, while Simone Iacoponi is another alternative.

Fabio Liverani may be hesitant to make too many other changes as he attempts to build momentum following their win at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

For Benevento, Pasquale Schiattarella is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Juventus.

Defenders Luca Caldirola and Christian Maggio were both forced off with injury last weekend and are set to be sidelined until 2021.

However in better news, left-back Daam Foulon is contention to return after missing the last two games with a shoulder problem.

Parma possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Busi, Osorio, Alves, Ricci; Kucka, Scozzarella, Kurtic; Karamoh, Gervinho; Cornelius

Benevento possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Letizia, Glik, Tuia, Foulon; Hetemaj, Tello, Improta; Insigne, Caprari; Lapadula

We say: Parma 2-2 Benevento

Both teams will have taken confidence from their results last weekend and will see this match as an opportunity to push further up the table. Parma have better quality in their side on paper, but Benevento have proven that they can grind out results and could take a point from their trip to Il Tardini.

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