Coppa Italia Final RTN Preview: Juventus-Parma, First Leg Match
Juventus - Parma | News Archive
Juventus' forward Pavel Nedved (Allsport)
04/24/2002. Juventus-Parma
AT STAKE
There will be plenty at stake on Thursday evening at the Delle Alpi stadium, where Juventus and Parma will face each other in the first leg of the Coppa Italia final.
The Serie A giants usually consider this competition as the less important goal of the season, but in the end the national Cup could be the only way for the Emiliani, and perhaps for the Bianconeri as well, to sweeten a somehow disappointing 2001/2002 campaign.
Unfortunately, the forthcoming World Cup forced the Italian federation to schedule this match before the end of the season, and this will inevitably affect this final. Indeed, both sides still have plenty to play for in the domestic league, although in totally opposite directions: Juventus trail league leaders Inter by one point with two rounds to go, while Parma hold a slight advantage over the relegation zone.
The huge importance of next Sunday's respective matches against Brescia and Fiorentina will reflect on the starting lineups of this first leg match: in a few words, both teams will field plenty of reserves.
TEAM NEWS
-Juventus: coach Lippi will give confidence to most of the players he fielded in the previous rounds, that's to say his reserves. Carini will relieve Buffon between the posts, while Amoruso and Zalayeta will form the offensive couple, with Del Piero and Trezeguet starting from the bench. Finally, Zenoni is expected to relieve Zambrotta on the right wing.
Probable line-up (4-3-1-2): Carini; Birindelli, Thuram, Iuliano, Paramatti; Zenoni, Conte, Davids; Nedved; Zalayeta, Amoruso
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-Parma: plenty of troubles for the guests, who will miss their most influential players: skipper Cannavaro is suspended and topscorer Di Vaio is sidelined with a muscular problem. Coach Carmignani, who will also miss injured Sensini, Bolano and Almeyda, is expected to field a 3-5-2 line-up, with right winger Marchionni advanced on the offensive line, alongside Bonazzoli.
Probable line-up (3-5-2): Taffarel; Djetou, Ferrari, Benarrivo; Diana, Appiah, Lamouchi, Nakata, Junior; Bonazzoli, Marchionni
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Juventus
1/8 finals: at Sampdoria 2-1 – vs. Sampdoria 5-2
Quarterfinals: vs. Atalanta 4-2 – at Atalanta 1-2
Semifinals: at Milan 2-1 – vs. Milan 1-1
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Parma
1/8 finals: at Messina 2-0 – vs. Messina 1-2
Quarterfinals: at Udinese 1-1 – vs. Udinese 0-0
Semifinals: vs. Brescia 2-0 – at Brescia 1-2
PLAYERS TO WATCH
-Juventus: Pavel Nedved. The Czech international can be devastating in his new position, that's to say behind the strikers. Both Amoruso and Zalayeta can create the spaces Pavel needs for his insertions and especially for his shots from outside the box.
-Parma: Marco Marchionni. This young forward is definitely one of the most talented Italian youngsters, and not by chance he's a point of reference of the Under 21 national team. Juve will have to pay attention to his quickness.
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