Both exceeding expectations so far this season, promoted Parma and unlikely pace-setters Udinese meet at Stadio Tardini on Monday.
Only a late implosion before the international break stopped Parma joining their visitors on seven points in the Serie A standings, but a win would draw them level with the Friulani.
Match preview
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After holding Fiorentina to a first-day draw, then toppling mighty AC Milan one week later, Parma travelled south to Naples on the final day of August, confident of claiming more points at the start of their latest comeback campaign.
The Serie B champions were leading by virtue of a Yoan Bonny penalty heading into the final few minutes, but goalkeeper Zion Suzuki then had a rush of blood to the head, charging out of his area and fouling Napoli's David Neres to pick up a second yellow card.
With all of his substitutes used, Parma coach Fabio Pecchia asked defender Enrico Del Prato to fill in between the posts, but during 15 minutes of stoppage time, Napoli scored twice against their 10-man visitors to turn the game on its head.
Nonetheless, there were more signs of promise for the Gialloblu faithful, and in a league not renowned for giving youth its chance, Pecchia has fielded the youngest team on average across the first three Serie A matchdays: 24 years and 24 days, including substitutes.
Now, Parma will aim to go unbeaten through their opening trio of top-flight home fixtures for the first time in 12 years, and history is certainly on their side: the Emilian club have lost just one of their last seven league meetings with Udinese, winning four times.
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That sole success for the Friulani came back in October 2020, but Udinese can approach the clubs' latest encounter with a strong sequence of results behind them.
Under the new management of Kosta Runjaic, the Bianconeri have progressed in the Coppa Italia and picked up seven points in Serie A, which left them level with leaders Inter Milan, Juventus and Torino heading into the international break.
Only twice before have they won at least three of their first four top-flight matches - most recently 10 years ago - but that feat will be possible on Monday evening.
Following a draw with Bologna in their Serie A opener, Udinese have gone on to beat both Lazio and Como, with Brenner's first-half strike proving enough to win the latter contest.
Including last season's dramatic escape from relegation, the Fruili club have not lost any of their last eight league matches, so positive momentum is clearly building.
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Team News
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In addition to suspended goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, Parma could be without Emanuele Valeri and Nahuel Estevez due to thigh injuries, while Adrian Benedyczak (ankle) is still sidelined.
Leandro Chichizola will deputise between the posts, but the hosts' attack should remain unchanged, with Yoann Bonny being supported up front by Romania wingers Valentin Mihaila and Dennis Man.
The latter has scored in both league games at the Tardini this term so could join an illustrious trio of Parma players by notching again on Monday: over the past 30 years, only Enrico Chiesa (1996), Adriano (2003) and Gervinho (2018) have scored three from three to start a Serie A season.
Meanwhile, Udinese are still missing their returning hero, veteran striker Alexis Sanchez, but Hassane Kamara is available again after serving a suspension last time out.
Jordan Zemura may therefore make way, with Kamara returning to the left flank of a 3-4-2-1 formation.
In the absence of Sanchez, Florian Thauvin and Brenner are set to link up with Lorenzo Lucca in the final third.
Parma possible starting lineup:
Chichizola; Del Prato, Balogh, Circati, Coulibaly; Bernabe, Keita; Man, Sohm, Mihaila; Bonny
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Perez, Bijol, Giannetti; Ehizibue, Payero, Karlstrom, Kamara; Thauvin, Brenner; Lucca
We say: Parma 2-1 Udinese
Only Torino have faced more shots than either Parma or Udinese in Serie A this season, so it may be a pleasing spectacle for the neutral at Stadio Tardini.
The Gialloblu were very unfortunate to lose last time out, and they can join their visitors on seven points by edging to victory on home turf.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
