Torino vs Parma Prediction - A Battle For A Place At UEFA Europa League At Stadio Olimpico

Next Sunday, Torino will take on Roberto Donadoni’s Parma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino for round 37 of the Italian Serie A, on a match of major importance for both sides’ quest to grab a place at the UEFA Europa League next season.

After last Sunday’s narrow win at Verona, Torino managed to put some extra pressure on Inter Milan, who sucumbed at the hands of their neighbours of AC Milan after last weekend’s Milanese derby. Torino’s lonely goal at Verona arrived early in the second half thanks to an own goal from Gennaro Sardo that might have placed Chievo on a delicate position at the Serie A table, with only two matches to go until the end of the competition.

Next weekend, Torino will try to extend their six match unbeaten run, but in order to do that they will have to dismantle a well organized Parma side that might not be enjoying their best moment recently, but who are always a very complicated team.

For the match against the Crociati, Torino’s manager Giampiero Ventura is not yet certain if he will be able to count on the Belgian goalie Gillet, on the Swedish midfielder Alexander Farnerud, and on the Albanian midfielder Migjen Basha, all sidelined due to injury.

As for Parma, the match at Turin will also be of paramount importance for the team’s aspirations of claiming a place at the UEFA Europa League next season. Roberto Donadoni’s Parma currently occupies the 7th place of the Serie A table, one point behind Torino and three behind Inter Milan, which are currently sitting at the last place that provides European international football next season.

The Crociati returned to victories last weekend against Sampdoria after a three match run without a single win and cannot allow any more slipups until the end of the season, that is if they still want to nurture their European football dream next term.

For the match at Turin, Roberto Donadoni will probably not be able to count on the Italian forward Nicola Pozzi and on the Colombian defender Jherson Vergara, both still recovering from their respective injuries.

When both sides met at the emblematic Ennio Tardini back in January, Parma were stronger and claimed the match with a comfortable 3-1 win with goals from Marchionne, Lucarelli, and Amauri. The inevitable and Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile scored the Toro’s lonely goal.

Next Sunday’s match might be somewhat different, as Torino enjoy from a slight advantage, mainly a consequence of their excellent good moment.

Torino

Stats: W-15 L-11 D-10

Recent Form - WWDWW

Parma

Stats: W-14 L-10 D-12

Recent Form - WDLLW

Possible Line-ups

Torino (5-4-1) - Padelli - Darmian - Maksimovic - Glik - Bovo - Moretti - Vives - Cerci - El Kaddouri - Kurtic - Immobile

Parma (4-4-2) - Bajza - Cassani - Lucarelli - Molinaro - Gobbi - Schelotto - Gargano - Marchioni - Acquah - Cassano - Amauri

Prediction

Torino 2 Parma 1