Serie A

Parma vs. Udinese: Crucial clash in the relegation battle

Parma and Udinese are both desperate for a win as they look to turn their fortunes around.

Three vital points are at stake at the Tardini on Matchday 9 of Serie A. Despite the arrival of Alberto Gilardino as head coach, Parma have lost their last three matches against Inter, Torino and Lazio and urgently need to turn things around. Udinese find themselves in a similarly difficult position, having suffered six consecutive defeats, and will be determined to end their losing run.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have been 41 previous competitive meetings between the two sides in Emilia: 22 wins for Parma (most recently 2-0 in Serie A 2019/20), 9 draws (most recently 2-2 in Serie A 2020/21) and 10 wins for Udinese (most recently 2-0 in Serie A 2026/27).

The meeting on 24 June 1973 was a historic one: on neutral ground in Vicenza, the two sides contested a play-off for promotion to Serie B. Parma won 2-0, with goals from Sega and Volpi.

DID YOU KNOW?

Parma have scored fewer goals than any other team (5) and have had the fewest different goalscorers (3, level with Genoa).

Parma have fallen behind first more often than any other team (7 times in 8 Matchdays). The only match in which they did not concede the opening goal was Parma-Genoa 2-1, their only league win so far.

Udinese have lost 6 consecutive matches, scoring 5 goals and conceding 15 over that run. Their most recent goal was scored by Ekkelenkamp in the 43rd minute of Torino-Udinese 2-1 on 12 October.

Udinese have scored more goals than any other team in the final 15 minutes of the first half, including stoppage time (4, level with Como), and have also conceded the most in that period (4, level with Frosinone and Monza).

Only Lecce (5) have scored more goals from corners than Udinese (3, level with Roma).

Udinese have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team (8).

COACHES and PLAYERS

This will be the 3rd official meeting between Alberto Gilardino and Kosta Runjaic: the previous 2, both Pisa-Udinese fixtures from last season, produced 1 win for the Udinese coach and 1 draw.

Udinese are the team Alberto Gilardino scored the most goals against during his playing career (15).

Simone Lontani scored against Lazio: it was the Parma forward’s 4th goal of the season and his 2nd in Serie A, after scoring against Monza on Matchday 3. Lontani is also the youngest player to have scored in Serie A this season, having been born in January 2008.

Only Giacomo Calò (24) has completed more crosses than Emanuele Valeri (21).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none

Cautioned: none

REFEREE

MASSA (SCATRAGLI – GALIMBERTI) IV: BONACINA, VAR: MAZZOLENI, AVAR: BARONI

UPCOMING MATCHES

Atalanta-Parma (2/11, 20.45)

Udinese-Roma (31/10, 18.00)

(Photo Getty Images)