Catanzaro, 17 September 2023 - the Crociati’s 5-0 win today at Catanzaro coincided with the team’s best-ever start to a Serie B season. Parma have never collected 13 points from the first 5 games. Last time out in Catanzaro, it ended 4-1 (1989). Today Pecchia’s team put on a performance of great maturity and strength.
Facing the hosts’ aggressive attacks in the first half, the Crociati did well to wait and capitalise upon the chances they did create. Dennis Man was the star performer: in the 18th minute, Bonny provided him with the perfect assist in the middle of the area and the Romanian made no mistake, guiding his shot off the post and in for 1-0. The tables really turned in 25’. Man played Bonny through on goal but Scognamillo took him down in the box (booked): Benedyczak was ice cold from the spot, fooling the goalkeeper and sliding it home for 2. Catanzaro carried on trying but Parma employed a perfect strategy of waiting, without risking anything, and found a third: Coulibaly played it into the box and Benedyczak found the corner for his second of the game. The second half had barely even started before Partipilo found the fourth following Sohm’s splendid assist. Čolak topped it all off with a fifth in the final minutes, assisted by debutant, Di Chiara. All focused on Sunday’s meeting with Sampdoria on Sunday at the Tardini now.
CATANZARO 0-5 PARMA
SCORERS: 18’ Man, 25’ Benedyczak (pen.), 40’ Benedyczak, 47’ Partipilo, 84’ Čolak
CATANZARO (4-4-2) Fulignati; Situm, Brighenti, Scognamillo, Krajnc (61’ Veroli); Sounas (46’ Donnarumma), Pontisso (60’ Pompetti), Ghion, Vandeputte; Biasci (46’ Brignola), Iemmello (76’ D’Andrea).
Unused subs: Borrelli, Krastev, Verna, Stoppa, Miranda, Kaatsers.
Coach: Vincenzo Vivarini
PARMA (4-2-3-1) Chichizola; Coulibaly (60’ Ansaldi), Delprato, Circati, Zagaritis (82’ Di Chiara); Estévez, Bernabé; Man (46’ Partipilo), Sohm, Benedyczak (46’ Hernani); Bonny (66’ Čolak).
Unused subs: Corvi, Osorio, Balogh, Begić, Hainaut, Mihaila, Di Chiara.
Coach: Fabio Pecchia
Referee: Gianluca Aureliano
Assistants: Garzelli, Bahri
Fourth Official: Costanza
VAR: Nasca.
AVAR: Cosso
Bookings: Coulibaly, Scognamillo, Estévez, Circati, Zagaritis
Corners: 8-3
Injury time: 5’ - 2’
