Parma vs Bologna preview - Donadoni wants Parma momentum

Posted Friday, November 29, 2013 by PA

Parma coach Roberto Donadoni expects his players to build on last weekend's triumph at Napoli when they host Bologna in Saturday's Emilia-Romagna derby.

Donadoni's side stunned Napoli to bring a three-match winless run to an end with Antonio Cassano's goal allowing the Ducale club to climb to ninth in the standings.

The result marked Parma's fourth win of the season and their first triumph on the road.

"We have to keep working hard," Donadoni said. "It's important that we keep our focus and we give continuity to our results.

"It wasn't easy but the players were magnificent and we got three points against last season's runners-up.

"We want to end the year as best as possible but we still have difficult games ahead of us, including Saturday's game against Bologna."

Rivals Bologna are 17th in the standings and have mustered just one win on their travels this season.

The Rossoblu go into the encounter at the Ennio Tardini stadium on the back of a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan.

The outcome kept Bologna one point and one place above the relegation zone.

Bologna will be under pressure to take a positive result this weekend in view of the challenging schedule they face before the end of the year.

Bologna take on Juventus and Fiorentina before ending 2013 at home to Genoa.

"We expect a battle in Parma," said Bologna midfielder Gyorgy Garics. "We cannot be thinking of the games against Juventus and Fiorentina but rather focus on taking one game at a time."

The visitors will be hoping that captain Alessandro Diamanti, who is struggling with the flu, will be well enough to return.

Parma will be without defender Aleandro Rosi and midfielder Walter Gargano, both serving a one-match ban this weekend.