Lazio prepares to take on Parma at the Olimpico, with the match scheduled for 8.45pm on matchday 7 of Serie A. After the dominant 3-0 victory against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, coach Gennaro Gattuso aims to maintain his season-opening pace and secure a night as league leaders, awaiting the match with Inter and Fiorentina on Sunday. Parma, under the guidance of AlbertoGilardino, is looking to get their first points under the new management, having suffered two 3–0 defeats against Inter and Torino in their first two matches.
Gattuso underlined the importance of not making errors in interpreting the match. "The absences up front? Let's start the match, then we'll see what we have available. There are two important players that we are missing, but today we must not make a mistake in the interpretation of the match. We need desire and mentality; we must implement the step we took against Juventus tonight," declared the coach during the interview with Sky Sport. The coach also highlighted the need to convey the same energy seen in the victory against Juventus.
Parma have shown poor form so far, with five defeats in seven league matches. The team has lost its last five away games and has only three times recorded at least six defeats away from home in a single season. Lazio striker Tijjani Noslin has already scored two goals against Parma in SerieA, consolidating his scoring record against a single opponent. Noslin is also one of two players, along with Marcus Thuram, to have recorded at least two goals and two assists in the last four seasons in Italy.
Lazio, on the other hand, boasts an unbeatable record in their last ten home games against Parma, with eight wins and two draws. The latest home unbeaten streak is the second longest among SerieA teams, only behind Cagliari (14) and Venezia (12). If Lazio managed to draw or win, it would be their first night as solitary league leaders of the season, awaiting the match with Inter and Fiorentina.
The referee AlbertoRuben Arena, coming from the Torre del Greco section, will preside over the match, with assistants Ceccon and Ceolin. VAR will be entrusted to Santoro and Mazzoleni, while Doveri will act as IV official. The official lineups have been announced: Lazio will field a 4‑3‑3 with Mandas in goal, Floriani, Sutalo, Provstgaard and Tavares in defense, Frattesi, Belahyane and Taylor in midfield, and Isaksen, Noslin and Zaccagni in attack. Parma, however, will have a 3‑5‑2 with Corvi in goal, DiegoCarlos, Troilo, Drobnic in defense, Delprato, Ordonez, Sierro, Keita and Valeri in midfield, and Romero and Touré in attack.
With the match scheduled for 8.45pm, Lazio fans, although limited to around 10,000 spectators due to restrictions, have already shown their support, organizing to make their presence felt alongside the team. The final result will determine whether Lazio can enjoy a night as leaders before facing the match against Inter and Fiorentina on Sunday.