Preview: Parma vs. Cagliari - prediction, team news, lineups

Parma host Cagliari on Wednesday night with both sides hoping to improve their league form and climb the Serie A table.

The home side have scored just three goals at home all season, while a 3-2 away victory against Torino in October has been Cagliari's only triumph on the road.

Match preview

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Parma extended their unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions with an impressive 2-2 draw away at league leaders AC Milan on Sunday.

Jasmin Kurtic's header in the 56th minute gave Fabio Liverani's side a two-goal cushion at San Siro, but Milan fought back with Theo Hernandez scoring a 91st-minute equaliser to snatch a late point.

Parma have been struggling to convert draws into victories, having drawn five of their last seven Serie A outings, including their last three home fixtures.

The two goals scored against Milan increased their goal tally for the season to 12, but only three other teams have scored fewer than Parma this campaign.

Sitting in 14th, the campaign could yet go either way for Liverani's side, who are within touching distance from the top half of the table as well as the bottom three.

A much-needed victory against Cagliari could ease their worries of falling into the drop zone, and could move them as high as 10th in Serie A.

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Cagliari suffered their fifth defeat of the season as they lost 3-1 at home to Inter Milan on Sunday afternoon.

Riccardo Sottil had put the Isolani in front on the stroke of half time and it looked as if Cagliari could hold on for the victory. However, Inter Milan had other ideas as they scored three goals in the final 16 minutes to secure all three points at the Sardegna Arena.

Eusebio Di Francesco's side have slipped to 11th in the table after a winless run of four matches and are one point above Wednesday's opponents.

Cagliari have not struggled for goals this campaign as they have found the net 18 times in Serie A – only twice in their history have they done better after the first 11 top-flight matches of the season.

They have however found it difficult away from home in recent times, having won only two of their last 20 league matches on the road – with 10 defeats and eight draws.

The Isolani gained three points in the away match against Parma last season and will be looking to secure back-to-back away victories in the league against them for the first time since January 2011.

Parma Serie A form: DDLWDD Parma form (all competitions): DLWWDD

Cagliari Serie A form: LWLDDL Cagliari form (all competitions): WLWDDL

Team News

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Parma winger Valentin Mihaila (groin), midfielder Juraj Kucka (leg) and right-back Vincent Laurini (muscle problem) are all doubtful for Wednesday's match.

Central midfielders Hernani and Jasmin Kurtic, who both scored against AC Milan, are set to remain in the starting lineup alongside Gaston Brugman.

Cagliari's Zito Luvumbo remains out with a hamstring injury but veteran defender Diego Godin and midfielder Gaston Pereiro could be available to feature on Wednesday if they are declared fit to play after self-isolating.

Forward Giovanni Simeone, who came off the bench against Inter Milan, will be pushing to start ahead of Leonardo Pavoletti.

Parma possible starting lineup: Sepe; Iacoponi, Alves, Osorio, Gagliolo; Hernani, Brugman, Kurtic; Karamoh, Gervinho; Cornelius

Cagliari possible starting lineup: Cragno; Farago, Walukiewicz, Carboni, Lykogiannis; Marin, Rog; Zappa, Pedro, Sottil; Simeone

We say: Parma 1-1 Cagliari

Parma have only won one of their last eight games against Cagliari in Serie A, while the visitors have conceded 14 goals from their six away matches this season – the second highest in the division. Both teams have struggled to find form recently and with little to separate the two sides, we could see another draw on Wednesday.

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