Parma against AS Roma: a late-season match with different pressures
Parma and AS Roma enter the 36th round of Serie A with completely different objectives. The home team at Ennio Tardini welcomes the end of the season in the lower part of mid-table, but with an important advantage over the relegation zone. According to the table updated on May 3, Parma were 12th with 42 points after 35 matches, while AS Roma had 61 points after 34 matches and held 6th place. For Parma, this is an opportunity to confirm a calm entry into the final rounds in front of their own fans. For AS Roma, every match is part of the race for European places, especially because the gap to the clubs ahead of them is small. Tickets for this match are in demand among fans because Tardini is not a large stadium, and the arrival of a big Roman club always raises interest.
Parma played against Inter at San Siro on May 3 and lost 2-0 in a match in which Inter secured the championship title. That is a good indicator of the rhythm that awaits them against AS Roma as well: they will have to spend a lot of time without the ball, defend the space around their own penalty area and choose the moments to move forward. AS Roma do not come to Parma as a team that can afford to spill points. In the preview of the Roman match with Fiorentina, it was highlighted that Gian Piero Gasperini's team is still in the fight for European qualification, and that means the away match at Tardini carries a weight that the table may not show at first glance.
What is at stake at Tardini
Ahead of the run-in, Parma had 10 wins, 12 draws and 13 defeats, with a goal difference of 25-42 according to the BeSoccer table. That figure reveals two things. The first is that Parma know how to collect points even when they do not dominate matches. The second is that their attacking output is not high, so against AS Roma they will have to be very concrete when they get a set piece, transition or a mistake from the visiting defence. At home, such matches are often decided by one good run into space, one cross or one save by the goalkeeper at a key moment.
AS Roma at the same moment had 19 wins, 4 draws and 11 defeats, with a goal difference of 48-29. That is the profile of a team that is dangerous in attack, but also solid enough not to have to turn every match into an open exchange of shots. According to StatMuse, Donyell Malen was AS Roma's top scorer in Serie A with 11 goals. In such a race for the upper part of the table, a goal from a front-line player is worth double, especially away from home, where rhythm and patience are often more important than possession of the ball.
- Parma: 12th place, 42 points, 35 matches according to the table updated on May 3.
- AS Roma: 6th place, 61 points, 34 matches according to the same table.
- Parma had a negative goal difference of 25-42 ahead of this round.
- AS Roma had a goal difference of 48-29 and remained in the fight for European places.
- Donyell Malen was AS Roma's top league scorer with 11 goals.
Parma: Carlos Cuesta's young idea and a match for discipline
Parma are led by Carlos Cuesta, a coach who came to the club after working in Arsenal's staff. His arrival was one of the more interesting coaching stories of the season because he took over the team at a very young stage of his career. Parma, under such leadership, cannot rely only on the emotion of the home ground. Against AS Roma, they need structure: a compact back line, a quick reaction after losing the ball and smart use of the wide areas.
The most important figure for the home team could be goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, especially if Roma have a larger number of shots or crosses. In its report from Inter - Parma, the Guardian highlighted that Suzuki was involved in an important moment in Nicola Barella's attempt, which ended on the frame of the goal and was then cleared. Such details will not change the whole season, but they show that Parma in big matches need a goalkeeper who stays calm even when the opponent presses for a long time.
In attack, Parma must not be too cautious. If they retreat completely, AS Roma will be able to set up attacks, look for half-spaces and wait for the home line to tire. The home team will therefore have to choose the moments when they can push the full-backs up, attack the second ball and force Roma's defence to run back toward their own goal. For a fan in the stadium, it will be interesting to see whether Parma can withstand the first waves and then turn the match into a fight for every metre.
AS Roma: Gasperini's pressure and an attack that must bring points
Gian Piero Gasperini is a coach whose teams usually seek intensity, aggressive movement and many players in the final third. At AS Roma, this especially comes to the fore when Dybala can receive the ball between the lines, and the attackers can attack the space behind the last line. In the preview of the match against Fiorentina, it was reported that Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné are ready to play, which is important information because both change the way Roma build attacks. Dybala provides the final pass and composure in the shooting zone, while Koné brings strength and carries the ball through the middle.
Donyell Malen is statistically the most concrete attacking support, but AS Roma in a match like this must not depend on only one scorer. Parma will probably close the central corridors and try to force the visitors to attack through the flanks. Because of that, runs from midfielders arriving from deep, set pieces and patience in the final third will be important. If Roma take an early lead, the match can move toward control by the visitors. If the score remains 0-0 for a long time, Tardini will gain that nervous energy in which the home team grows from every ball won.
Roma won the first head-to-head meeting of this season against Parma 2-1. In the Chiesa Di Totti report, Mario Hermoso, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante, Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka and Artem Dovbyk were highlighted as players who had an important influence on that match. That does not mean the same scenario will be repeated, but it gives a good clue: Parma have already shown that they can stay in the match against the Romans, while Roma have shown that they have enough quality from the bench and from set pieces to break down a tough opponent.
- First meeting this season: AS Roma - Parma 2-1.
- Mario Hermoso scored an important headed goal in that match.
- According to the report, Paulo Dybala had a major creative influence.
- Artem Dovbyk came off the bench and scored for Roma.
- Parma remained close in the result even in defeat, which makes the away match more cautious for the Romans.
Tactical picture: Parma must survive the pressure, Roma must be patient
The most realistic start to the match is Roma with more of the ball and Parma in a low or mid block. The home team will try to shorten the space between the lines so that Dybala does not receive the ball facing the goal. That means a lot of running for Parma's midfield, but also clear communication between the centre-backs and the full-backs. If one player is late stepping out, Roma can quickly create an overload.
For AS Roma, the speed of ball circulation is key. Slow possession suits Parma because it gives them time to return to their block. A quick switch of play, a vertical pass toward the forward and a full-back's run behind the back of the home defence are much more dangerous tools. Gasperini's teams often demand that centre-backs participate in the build-up and pull the opponent out of their comfort zone. At Tardini, that will be especially important because the pitch and stands create a sense of closeness: every misplaced pass immediately lifts the crowd.
Parma can look for their chances from set pieces. Against a stronger opponent, that is often the shortest route to a serious opportunity. Corners, free kicks from the flank and long throw-ins can turn the match into a physical duel in which the difference in the table is less visible. If the home team makes Roma nervous, every second ball won can bring a new phase of pressure.
Stadio Ennio Tardini: a city stadium with stands close to the action
Stadio Ennio Tardini is located at Viale Partigiani D'Italia, 1, close to the centre of Parma. According to the Parma Calcio 1913 website, the stadium is owned by the city council, has a capacity of 23,324 seats and is one of the older Italian stadiums. The Stadium Guide states that it opened in 1923 and highlights its urban location. That matters for fans: Tardini is not an isolated complex on the edge of the city, but a stadium that fits into city streets, cafés and short walking routes.
For the spectator, that means a different rhythm of arrival. Instead of large car parks next to the stadium, walking, public transport and arriving earlier come to the fore. Parma Calcio states that, because of the central location in a residential area, there is no special private parking for motor vehicles next to the stadium. For visiting fans, the Scambiatore Nord car park in Viale delle Esposizioni is mentioned, with shuttle buses on match day. It is worth securing tickets on time, but it is also worth planning the arrival because the last kilometre around the stadium is not a place for improvisation.
- Stadium: Stadio Ennio Tardini.
- Address: Viale Partigiani D'Italia, 1, Parma.
- Capacity according to Parma Calcio 1913: 23,324 seats.
- Opening according to The Stadium Guide: 1923.
- The stadium is located close to the centre, in an urban and residential zone.
Getting to the stadium and moving around Parma
The Stadium Guide states that from Parma's main railway station to the stadium you can take bus number 9 in the direction of Via Zoni, the ride takes about 10 minutes, and you get off at the Stadio Tardini stop. The same source states that buses 8 and 21 also stop near the stadium. For fans arriving by train, that is the simplest plan: arrive in the city early enough, avoid the congestion around the stadium and do the rest of the journey by public transport or on foot.
Parma is a city that can be pleasantly explored before the match. The centre is not huge, so fans who arrive earlier can combine lunch, a walk and the trip toward the stadium without long transfers. For those arriving by car, the most important thing is not to count on parking right next to the stadium. Parma Calcio lists the Scambiatore Nord solution near the A1 Parma motorway exit, from where shuttle buses are organised for visiting fans toward the away sector. That information is especially important for AS Roma fans travelling in an organised way or by private cars.
- By train: arrival at Parma railway station, then by bus or on foot toward the stadium.
- By bus: line 9 toward Via Zoni stops at Stadio Tardini, and lines 8 and 21 are also nearby.
- By car: do not plan to park immediately next to the stadium because of the urban and residential location.
- For visiting fans: Parma Calcio lists Scambiatore Nord in Viale delle Esposizioni and a shuttle toward the stadium.
- Arriving earlier is more practical because traffic around the stadium narrows as kick-off approaches.
Atmosphere: home nerves and Roman ambition
Tardini can be uncomfortable for visitors precisely because it is not a cold, distant stadium. The stands are close, the reactions of the crowd quickly transfer onto the pitch, and Parma in such an atmosphere can gain extra energy even when they are not dominant. The home fans will demand fight, sliding tackles, pressing after a lost ball and courage in stepping out from the first minute. Against a club like AS Roma, even a draw can taste good if it comes after a solid, concentrated performance.
On the other hand, AS Roma fans know that away matches like this are often remembered at the end of the season. These are not the matches with the biggest headlines before kick-off, but points from Parma can decide whether the run-in will be successful. Because of that, loud visiting support is expected, especially if Roma move early toward the home goal. Seats in the stands disappear quickly when local interest, travelling fans and the importance of points in the 36th round come together.
Players worth watching
For Parma, the first point of interest is Zion Suzuki. If Roma have possession and pressure, the home goalkeeper can become one of the most important players of the match. Besides him, Parma will need calm centre-backs and midfielders who can carry the ball out after winning it. Without at least a few quality exits from pressure, the home team risks spending the entire match defending.
For AS Roma, the eye naturally goes toward Dybala, Malen and the players who can change the rhythm between the lines. Dybala is not only a scorer, but a player who changes the angle of attack with one touch. Malen is important because the numbers show that he knows how to finish moves. Manu Koné brings a physical component and can be useful precisely in an away match where it is necessary to win the second ball, outrun a duel and open space for teammates.
The AS Roma centre-backs should not be forgotten either. Against Parma, they will have to watch for counterattacks and set pieces, but also participate in the build-up. If the home team closes the middle, the first pass from a centre-back toward the flank or between the lines can be the start of the most dangerous Roman attacks. That is part of the match that is easy to miss from the stands, but it often decides whether the favourite attacks calmly or frantically.
What a fan can expect
This does not look like a match for an open charge from the first to the last minute. It feels more like a meeting in which AS Roma will try to impose control, and Parma will wait for moments when they can cut the rhythm. The first 20 minutes could show the direction of the evening: if Roma create big chances early, the home team will have to survive the pressure; if Parma keep a clean sheet and win a few duels in front of Curva Nord, the stadium will quickly get involved in the match.
For a neutral spectator, the most interesting thing is the clash of need and comfort. Parma have enough points not to play with panic, but they do not have the luxury of relaxing against a higher-quality opponent. AS Roma have quality, but also the pressure of the table. In such matches, details often decide: the first yellow card for a centre-back, a save after a set piece, the reaction from the bench or concentration in the final 15 minutes.
Ticket sales for this match are underway, and the encounter has all the elements of a proper late-season away trip: a home team that wants to finish the season without stress, a visitor chasing a high placing and a stadium where fans feel close to the pitch. For those coming to Parma, the best advice is simple: arrive earlier, use public transport whenever possible and leave enough time to enter the stadium zone.
Sources:
- BeSoccer - Serie A 2025/26 table, points, goal difference and club form ahead of the 36th round.
- Guardian - report from the Inter - Parma 2-0 match and the context of Parma's last match before the encounter with AS Roma.
- Chiesa Di Totti - preview of AS Roma - Fiorentina and information about AS Roma's fight for European places and the readiness of Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné.
- Chiesa Di Totti - report from AS Roma - Parma 2-1 from the first head-to-head meeting of this season.
- StatMuse - information that Donyell Malen is AS Roma's top scorer in the 2025/26 Serie A season with 11 goals.
- Parma Calcio 1913 - information about Stadio Ennio Tardini, capacity, location, parking and shuttle transport for visiting fans.
- The Stadium Guide - information about the stadium, opening, public transport and bus lines toward Stadio Ennio Tardini.
- Bild - information about Carlos Cuesta's arrival on the Parma Calcio 1913 bench and his coaching profile.