Parma vs Hellas Verona preview - Donadoni: We won't be complacent

Posted Saturday, March 08, 2014 by PA

Parma coach Roberto Donadoni insists his players are not getting carried away with their lofty position as they prepare to meet Hellas Verona in Serie A on Sunday.

The Gialloblu are riding a 14-match unbeaten run in the league and currently sit sixth in the table and have a game in hand.

Parma are one place and one point adrift of Inter Milan, who hold the last Europa League qualifying spot.

"We have to take it one game at a time," Donadoni said. "We are doing well but there is still room for improvement.

"Our positive run of form is down to our determination to take the best posible result from every game.

"It's with this aim that we will try to continue in this path and see where we stand at the end of the campaign."

Last weekend's 1-0 triumph at Sassuolo was Parma's 10th win of the campaign.

The Ducale club are unbeaten at the Ennio Tardini stadium since November 2 when they fell 1-0 to league leaders Juventus.

Rivals Hellas have also been one of the surprise packages in Italy's top flight this season.

The Verona outfit, who gained promotion to Serie A last summer, are seventh and level on 40 points with Parma.

Last weekend's goalless result against Bologna all but assured Hellas Serie A football next season.

Normally 40 points is the magic number clubs aim for at the start of the campaign to avoid the drop.

"I am really delighted with how things are going for us," Hellas coach Andrea Mandorlini said. "To have collected 40 points already in 26 games is something to be proud of.

The visitors will be bolstered by the return of the team's top scorer Luca Toni.

Toni, who has scored 13 times this season, missed last weekend's match through suspension.