Parma vs Genoa preview - Donadoni plays down crisis talk at Parma

Posted Sunday, February 10, 2013 by PA

Parma coach Roberto Donadoni is reluctant to talk about a crisis at the Stadio Ennio Tardini as his side look to get back on track against Genoa on Sunday.

The Gialloblu are in danger of slipping out of the top half of the table having failed to win in four games, with a 2-0 loss at Fiorentina marking a second consecutive defeat.

Relegation-threatened Genoa are a much-improved prospect under new boss Davide Ballardini but Donadoni fancies his own team's chances.

"Talking about a blackout doesn't seem right to me," he told fcparma.com. "Until we went 2-0 down we played well, we ran more than Fiorentina and we had three or four good chances to score.

"For example the Nicola Sansone chance - the last pass wasn't precise enough to let him control the ball right. Those little things make the difference on a great chance.

"We have to work on that, as we also have to work on some other moves.

"We are on a run of two defeats and we want to find our way back on to the right track. We are facing a team that tries to stay balanced without leaving themselves open too much."

Midfielder Daniele Galloppa, defender Fabiano Santacroce and goalkeeper Antonio Mirante all miss out due to injury, while wingers Aleandro Rosi and Marco Marchionni serve one-match bans.

Ballardini has had an immediate impact on the fortunes of Genoa, who climbed out of the relegation zone with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Lazio.

Luigi Del Neri's replacement made his debut at Juventus, where the Rossoblu claimed a controversial 1-1 draw, before seeing off Vladimir Petkovic's Scudetto hopefuls with a last-gasp goal from substitute Marco Rigoni.

Club president Enrico Preziosi said of his new employee: "He has brought a bit of serenity but the quality was already here.

"When a coach, even one as good as Del Neri, loses nine games from 10 it is probably from a lack of self-esteem or poor rapport with the team.

"So I think Ballardini will have a little bit more luck with that."

Genoa are missing midfielders Bosko Jankovic and Juan Vargas through injury, with striker Antonio Floro Flores unlikely to feature.

Victory at the Tardini would mark first back-to-back wins for the Grifone so far this term, an outcome which could pull Cagliari down into 17th place if the Sardinians lose to AC Milan.