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

Parma and Fiorentina will be seeking a return to winning ways in Sunday evening's Serie A clash at Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Both sides have lost back-to-back matches but it is Parma who sit higher up the table, eight points better off than their struggling opponents.

Match preview

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Parma occupied a Europa League spot a couple of weeks back, but successive defeats to Inter Milan and Hellas Verona has seen them slip down the division into 10th place.

The Gialloblu now have nine games to make up a four-point deficit on seventh-place AC Milan, who they still to face in those remaining fixtures.

One win from four is not how Roberto D'Aversa would have envisioned his side's return to action panning out, though all hope is not lost just yet.

If Parma are to kickstart their campaign then they have to end a disappointing run that has seen them lose their last three home matches, scoring only one goal in the process.

That makes it their worst run at Stadio Ennio Tardini in 17 months, though Fiorentina have only won one of their last four away matches - a 5-1 victory at Sampdoria in February.

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Interestingly, Fiorentina have exactly the same points (16) and clean sheets (3) after 14 away games in 2019-20 as they did at the same point last season.

Whether home or away, La Viola will likely need to put another couple of wins on the board if they are to make certain of their Serie A status.

They are six points clear of the dropzone after losing to Lazio and Sassuolo in their last two matches.

Going further back, it is five games without a win for Giuseppe Iachini's charges, who still have the likes of Inter and Roma to face.

Fiorentina are also winless in their last three meetings with Parma, losing two of those, which is their longest wait for a win in this fixture since 2004.

Parma's Serie A form: WLDWLL

Fiorentina's Serie A form: WDDDLL

Team News

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Hernani picked up another booking in the 3-2 loss to Verona last time out and will serve a one-match suspension, likely meaning a return to the side for Juraj Kucka.

Matteo Darmian and Giuseppe Pezzella are also in line for recalls on Sunday, as is Gervinho, who has three goals in seven previous Serie A games against Fiorentina.

Parma's only injury absentee is Roberto Inglese, the centre-forward having been ruled out since January with a thigh injury.

Fiorentina will welcome Martin Caceres back from suspension for this match, coinciding with Dusan Vlahovic's ban for his sending off against Lazio.

Christian Kouame is also absent, but Iachini otherwise has a full group of players to call upon.

Versatile forward Federico Chiesa has already scored three away goals this season - one short of his best record of away goals in a single Serie A campaign.

Parma possible starting lineup: Seppe; Darmian, Iacoponi, Alves, Pezzella; Kucka, Brugman, Barilla; Kulusevski, Cornelius, Gervinho

Fiorentina possible starting lineup: Dragowski; Milenkovic, Pezzella, Caceres; Lirola, Duncan, Pulgar, Castrovilli, Dalbert; Chiesa, Ribery

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We say: Parma 1-1 Fiorentina

Both sides have struggled for wins since returning to action last month. We are backing a 1-1 draw on Sunday, matching the scoreline from November's reverse fixture.