Mario Carlini / Iguana Press
Parma haven't lost at the Ennio Tardini since March in a run now stretching back almost ten months. In this match that record faces its toughest test yet as the Scudetto champions travel to town.
The fortress that is the Ennio Tardini has been as tough for Juventus in the league in recent years as it has been for everyone else over the past couple of seasons. Juventus have won away in Parma only once in the league since 2005, and come into this game with some slightly shaky recent form -- by their standards, at least.
Juve are still five points clear at the top of the table, though lost their last match against struggling Sampdoria, and have now lost thrice this campaign after their impressive unbeaten previous season. Parma, meanwhile, are currently enjoying a three game winning streak, and are the best of Serie A's rest in eighth place.
This game evolved into something of a derby as these sides traded blows in their nineties glory days, peaking in 1995 when Parma beat Juventus in the Uefa Cup final. Parma's Amauri, Raffaele Palladino, Marco Marchionni and Antonio Mirante have all played for the Old Lady, while Juve captain Gigi Buffon and teammate Sebastian Giovinco have turned out in gialloblu.
Much of the pre-game narrative has focused on Giovinco, who left Parma in the summer after a couple of seasons in which he asserted himself as a firm fans' favourite. Having not hit peak form for the bianconeri yet, it would be oh-so-predictable if he netted his seventh goal of the season in Emilia-Romagna on Sunday. Last weekend Amauri scored against another of his old clubs Palermo -- though there is rather less a risk of him scoring again.
Juve's sizeable list of absentees gives Parma some slight hope they could come away with something, but it will take a lot to stop Antonio Conte's side who are looking to bounce back from the shock disappointment of the last round.
Parma Injuries and Suspensions
Out: Daniele Galloppa (injured), Yohan Benalouane, Alessandro Lucarelli (suspended)
Juventus Injuries and Suspensions
Out: Claudio Marchisio, Simone Pepe, Giorgio Chiellini, Nicklas Bendtner (injured)
Match Date/Time: Sunday 13th January 2013 3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. E.T.
Venue: Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy
TV: Sky Calcio 1 (Italy), beIN SPORT (U.S.), ESPN UK / HD (U.K.)
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