Parma 3 : 0 Pescara preview - Parma ease to victory

Parma returned to the top half of the Serie A table with a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-bound Pescara at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

A lean two-month period saw the Gialloblu tumble out of the race for Europe but Yohan Benalouane found the visitors were there for the taking with his unopposed first-half header.

Further strikes from Gabriel Paletta and Amauri then allowed Parma boss Roberto Donadoni the luxury of handing two youngsters their club debuts in the final 30 minutes.

Donadoni's men return to 10th place while Pescara drop to 20th, six points from safety with only eight games remaining.

Parma took control from the start and rarely looked threatened, with Amauri testing Ivan Pelizzoli's reflexes early on.

A deft exchange of passes between the Brazilian and Jonathan Biabiany came to nothing before Amauri forced a corner in the 18th minute.

All it needed was an unmarked Benalouane to connect with the inswinging ball and head it over the goalline.

Parma came close to a quickfire second through Biabiany, the Frenchman twisting to fire just off target, before Pescara struggled to close down the onrushing Nicola Sansone.

There was time for Sansone to try his luck once again before the break, with Elvis Abbruscato's late run into the Parma box coming to nothing.

The Gialloblu marched on after the interval and Paletta duly scored his first goal of the season with his left boot in the 52nd minute.

Pescara were deflated but that did not stop Abbruscato bursting into the box to stretch Antonio Mirante with a firm header.

It was all in vain, though, as Amauri put Parma out of sight with a splendid finish to spin Pelizzoli on his spot with 65 minutes played.

Such was Parma's confidence they would survive the rest of the game without incident, Amauri was withdrawn for 16-year-old striker Alberto Cerri to a round of applause.

Sansone saw Pelizzoli tip his long-range shot over the bar as Parma's shooting practice continued with midfielder Filippo Boniperti, 21, enjoying a run-out for the last 10 minutes.

Beaten Pescara, meanwhile, gave some game time to 18-year-old striker Federico Di Francesco, the son of club legend Eusebio Di Francesco.