Parma are back on the up in Italian football after the doom and gloom of bankruptcy and near extinction over the past 15 years.
After their second rebirth in the space of a decade, one of the continent’s most recognised clubs are chasing a third successive promotion and a romantic return to Serie A this season.
Five clubs within three points of each other are battling it out for the final automatic promotion position but the Gialloblu are seemingly in pole position with a reasonably kind run-in to boot, starting on Tuesday afternoon against relegation-haunted Ternana at their Stadio Ennio Tardini home.
Roberto D’Aversa’s men did suffer a shock 1-0 reverse at rock-bottom Pro Vercelli on Saturday but Parma have tended to be strong operators as hosts. The Emilia-Romagna outfit are unbeaten at the Ennio Tardini since October and have beaten five of the bottom six sides by an aggregate 15-1 here.
Despite their unexpected reverse last time out, the Gialloblu have W8-D1-L2 over their past 11 outings, including home victories over promotion-chasing Frosinone and Palermo. However, their defensive resolve has ebbed away ever so slightly in 2018 with D’Aversa’s troops recording just five clean sheets in 17.
Ternana appeared dead and buried as the campaign began it’s final third, bagging only three triumphs from their opening 28. But the Rossoverdi have rallied since, picking up W4-D3-L3 to move themselves to within touching distance of Serie B survival.
Sandro Pochesci’s side hasn’t been shy of entertainment either. The visitors have rewarded goal-hungry followers with 15 profitable Over 2.5 Goals selections in their last 19 matches with those contests averaging 3.42 goals-per-game.
It’s been a similar scenario on their travels with Ternana’s road trips averaging 3.74 goals-per-game – 74% of which crossed the Over 2.5 Goals whitewash and almost half breaking the Over 3.5 Goals barrier.
Parma haven’t proven to be quite as reliable for high-scoring encounters but with the finishing line in sight, a potential return to the bright lights of Serie A within reach and reasonably ragged opponents in opposition, I’m happy to support Over 2.5 Goals at a generous 1.91 this midweek.
Over 2.5 Goals (1.91)
