Stuttgart respectful of struggling Parma
Wednesday, 16 February 2005
Parma FC will be without defenders Damiano Ferronetti and Cesare Bovo for the
first leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie against VfB Stuttgart on
Wednesday, but in-form striker Alberto Gilardino believes the Italian team
can still progress.

  

Alberto Gilardino could be on the bench against Stuttgart


Minor injuries
Bovo dislocated his right shoulder during the 2-1 Serie A defeat by ACF
Fiorentina on Sunday and is likely to be out for seven days, so could be in
contention for the second leg in Germany. Ferronetti is recovering from a
minor thigh injury. The Fiorentina result left Parma in 18th place, and the
game against Stuttgart is followed by a vital match against fellow relegation
strugglers Brescia Calcio on Sunday.

Squad rotation
Coach Pietro Carmignani is expected to rotate his players, with Luca Bucci
replacing Sébastien Frey in goal, while Gilardino, who has scored five times
in his last seven games, should start on the bench.

Stuttgart worries
Stuttgart will be shorn of internationals Kevin Kuranyi (groin) and Andreas
Hinkel (influenza) while coach Matthias Sammer also misses long-term
absentees Philipp Lahm and Marco Streller. Left-back Lahm has a stress
fracture; Streller is recovering from a double fracture to his shinbone and
fibula.

Sammer still optimistic
Despite the absences, Sammer remains optimistic about the tie - if highly
respectful of Parma: "We want to win, but this will be a hard task. Their
defence is very good and they seem a compact team. It is a joke that they are
fighting against relegation in their league."

One striker
Stuttgart may start with only one striker, the Brazilian Cacau replacing
Kuranyi, while former international Markus Babbel could reinforce the back
line. "We need to be prepared for Gilardino. He is an excellent player,"
added Sammer.

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