OPTA FOCUS – Napoli set to host surprise package Parma
After a splendid 3-0 victory over Bologna, Antonio Conte’s Napoli await Parma at the Stadio Maradona in Serie A Week 3. The arrival of Romelu Lukaku has already stirred up an ecstatic Napoli fan base and now they have the chance to build on the impressive victory last time out. You have to go back to March 2024 for the last time Napoli secured back-to-back wins in the top division (against Sassuolo and Juventus), and they haven't won two in a row with a clean sheet in the league since March 2023 (against Atalanta and Torino, during Luciano Spalletti’s tenure). In addition, Napoli have not conceded in their last two Serie A outings against Parma, both of which were played during the 2020/21 season with Gennaro Gattuso as coach. They could keep a clean sheet for three consecutive matches against Parma for the first time in the competition. The side from Emilia-Romagna, despite arriving in Campania boosted by a draw against Fiorentina and a victory over AC Milan, do not have a favourable record against Napoli in recent times, having failed to score in five of their last eight Serie A encounters with them, including the two most recent ones. It should also be noted that Parma have won four of their last nine games at the Stadio Maradona (D5), the last of which was a 2-1 victory on 14 December 2019, with goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Gervinho.
Style of play: Agile on the counter-attack, watch out for attacking recoveries
Parma play with a high press, quick and fierce counter-attacks, while paying particular attention to the flanks. It is no coincidence that they have attempted four shots following an offensive ball recovery – within a maximum of 40 metres from the opponents’ goal – ranking just behind Juventus and Bologna (both with five) in this category after the first two matchdays. Fabio Pecchia’s side – which also took advantage of this against Milan – are compact, applying coordinated pressure on their opponents, recovering the ball and immediately adopting a direct approach down the wings, quickly overturning the attacking threat with lightning-fast counter-attacks. So far, no team have recorded more counter-attacks than Parma (five, like Empoli and Juventus) in the first two matchdays. These counters are often dangerous and effective. Parma have racked up a significant number of shots: 11 on target in the league, second only to Fiorentina, Atalanta (both 15), and Juventus (12) – Napoli, by comparison, have nine.
Parma’s stars: Man, Bonny and Bernabe
Fabio Pecchia has multiple dangerous weapons in his armoury. The spotlight is on Dennis Man, who has scored in each of the first two games of this season. Since the introduction of three points for a win (from 1994/95), only one Parma player has scored in each of the first three matches of a Serie A season: Adriano in 2002/03 and 2003/04. The Romanian is now aiming for a historic hat-trick, having already equalled his goal tally from his previous Serie A season: two goals in 14 appearances in 2020/21. His reference point up front, and for the entire Parma team, is Ange-Yoan Bonny. An unusual centre-forward, resembling Joshua Zirkzee in certain movements and interpretations of the role. He is a player who prefers assisting over scoring: consider that only Paulo Dybala and Rafael Leao (both with seven) have created more chances for their team-mates than the 2003-born player (six) so far in Serie A this season. Valentin Mihaila should complete the Emiliano trident, but Matteo Cancellieri, who netted the winner against Milan, should not be overlooked: five of his six Serie A goals have come as a substitute, four of them from the 70th minute onwards. Milan suffered the consequences. A final mention goes to the Spanish gem Adrian Bernabe, fresh from winning Olympic gold with Spain, who has won five tackles so far this season, no midfielder has done better than him so far (equal with Nikola Moro, Karol Linetty, Marten de Roon and Remo Freuler). Technically gifted, but also tough, he is the “brains” of Parma.
Articolo a cura della redazione Opta
