Parma vs Pescara preview - Bucchi has "good feeling" for Parma trip

The time is now for Pescara to mount a late bid for survival in Serie A, according to head coach Cristian Bucchi, who has "a good feeling" about the trip to Parma.

The Delfini are five points adrift of 17th-placed Genoa at the bottom of the table and without a win in 10 games, but Bucchi asked his players to take heart from November's 2-0 victory over Parma, when it appeared the newly-promoted side could compete.

"I think Pescara will win, I have a good feeling about it," he told La Repubblica. "We need a win. I've seen how fired up my players are and the team has a lot more to give.

"This is the right match for us to get back in the race for survival."

An injury crisis at the Stadio Adriatico has not helped matters, though, with Per Kroldrup, Mattia Perin, Vladimir Weiss and Marco Capuano among the first-team players still struggling to be ready for the game.

The experienced duo of striker Giuseppe Sculli and midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino have used the last fortnight to recover, however.

Bucchi added: "We took full advantage of the international break to work hard and I'm okay with the fact we have men returning for the players that won't be able to feature."

The last two weeks have provided Parma boss Roberto Donadoni with a similar personnel boost.

McDonald Mariga, Fabiano Santacroce, Andrea Coda, Djamel Mesbah and Raffaelle Palladino remain injured, with midfielder Jaime Valdes serving a one-match suspension, but Aleandro Rosi and Massimo Gobbi are back in contention at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Donadoni said: "The international break has given certain players a chance to recover and we can now give more minutes to those who need to reach the level others are already on.

"We have a crucial home game with Pescara which could see us pick up three more points in our bid to guarantee our survival, which remains our primary goal.

"We also have to improve on our current league position and we have the ambition and desire to do so."

Despite a stabilising 4-1 home win over Torino, the Crociati have lost six of their last eight games and sit 10 points above the relegation zone.