Serie A Preview: Crisis clubs Parma, Milan meet

Beset by financial worries, Parma have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after Antonio Cassano left the club, amid a threat of legal action over unpaid wages.

Spirits at the Ennio Tardini will not have been lifted by a last-gasp Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Juventus in midweek.

A sixth-place finish last term did not bring European action due to tax issues, and Parma have since slumped to the foot of Serie A, 10 points from safety.

While Parma have struggled all season, Milan have displayed the worst form in Serie A since the season's resumption in the new year.

Winless since the brief winter break, Inzaghi is clinging to his job with Milan well adrift of the European places for a second straight campaign.

The former striker reportedly retains faith from Milan supremo Silvio Berlusconi and captain Riccardo Montolivo has issued a rallying call to the struggling squad.

"We have to take things one game at a time," he told Milan Channel.

"We can get back into the race for Europe, it's down to us. We have to solve our problems, and we have everything we need to succeed.

"We must all stand united, none of us is happy, we're all angry."

Inter are faring little better and sit just one place above their neighbours on goal difference.

A trip to Sassuolo may bring confidence though, given Inter have smashed Eusebio Di Francesco's men for seven in two of their three meetings.

Roma will hope to put some pressure on Juventus when they play Empoli a day before the champions' trip to Udinese - though a seven-point cushion and five-match winning run against the side from Friuli will have Massimiliano Allegri in bullish mood.

Fiorentina may head to Genoa on Saturday without key man Juan Cuadrado as a reported move to Chelsea nears, while top-five rivals Sampdoria and Lazio respectively travel to Torino and Cesena.

Napoli will hope to cement third in their trip to struggling Chievo, who will hope to see fellow scrappers Cagliari beaten at Atalanta, while Palermo host Verona.

Latest in
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Latest in News
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report