Relegation rivals in nervy stalemate

Posted Sunday, May 08, 2011 by PA

Bologna and Parma will head into the final two games of the season still both unsure of which division they will be playing in next term after battling out a goalless draw.

In-form Parma headed to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara knowing victory would have assured their Serie A status, but the stalemate means they still have work to do.

The draw was even less satisfactory for the 15th-placed hosts, who remained a point and a position worse off in the standings than their visitors.

Sebastian Giovinco came within inches of giving Parma the lead in the seventh minute, his left-footed effort from the edge of the box hitting the angle of bar and post.

Marco Di Vaio found himself in acres of space at the other end eight minutes later but Gaston Ramirez could not find the decisive pass.

The lively Giovinco was at the heart of most of Parma's attacking play and whipped in a dangerous cross in the 16th minute - after a neat one-two with Francesco Modesto - which Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano did well to save.

Bologna relied on the aerial threat of Di Vaio, but Parma's centre-backs dealt with their long balls comfortably for the most part.

The home team twice nearly broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time, though. First a spectacular long-range Archimede Morleo blast struck the bar and then Di Vaio pounced on the rebound but could not get any power into his shot.

Chances were at a premium after the break, with both sides seemingly lacking energy to create the opening.

Modesto played a fantastic ball across the face of goal just before the hour but no Parma team-mate could get on the end of it.

The visitors then resorted to long balls for Valeri Bojinov, but he received little support.

Substitute Antonio Candreva tried to catch Viviano off guard with a long-range attempt in the 81st minute but missed the target.

Viviano's opposite number Nicola Pavarini was finally forced into his first save of the match three minutes from time to keep out an Albin Ekdal drive from the edge of the area, but there was to be no breakthrough.