Parma VS Fiorentina preview - Parma chief wants fan backing

Posted Sunday, February 23, 2014 by PA

Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi has urged the club's fans to come out in numbers for Monday's home game against Fiorentina as they look to continue their rise up the Serie A standings.

The Ducale club go into the encounter at the Ennio Tardini stadium riding a 13-match unbeaten run in the league.

Last weekend's 4-0 triumph at Atalanta lifted Parma to sixth place, a position that would guarantee them European football next season.

Rivals Fiorentina are fourth in the standings, eight points clear of Parma and Ghirardi knows his team will need all the support they can get to claim three points on Monday.

"I dream of having 20,000 fans at the stadium on Monday," he said. "A packed stadium would give my players a further boost in confidence in order to do well against Fiorentina."

Parma, coached by Roberto Donadoni, have kept a clean sheet in their last four league games while their last defeat dates was on November 2, when they fell 1-0 to Serie A leaders Juventus.

"We cannot fear facing teams that are ahead of us in the table," Ghirardi said. "We know Fiorentina sre strong but I know my players will do their best to take a good result.

"To arrive sixth in the standings would be something incredible for us."

Rivals Fiorentina bounced back from last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan with Thursday's 3-1 triumph at Esbjerg in the Europa League last 32 first leg.

The outcome in Denmark left Vincenzo Montella's side with a foot in the last 16 of the competition.

"It was important for us to win and take a good advantage for Thursday's return leg," Fiorentina striker Alessandro Matri said. "Now we must recover our energy and focus on our game at Parma."

Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero returns from suspension.

The hosts will be without midfielder Afriyie Acquah, who serves a one-match ban.