Match day 20 of the 1991/92 season threw up an unexpected mouth-watering clash. Claudio Ranieri’s high flying Napoli made the trip north to face Serie A’s continued surprise package, Parma.
Napoli came in to this fixture having lost just twice all season. Luigi De Agostini ‘s strike at home to Juventus and a hefty defeat at the San Siro they’d like to forget as Milan put five past them, in a 5-0 rout. Since the San Siro slaughter Ranieri’s side had won three of their previous four before the trip to the Tardini. As for the hosts, Parma were enjoying just their second stint in Serie A. Nevio Sacala’s gialloblu had lost just one of their previous six fixtures before welcoming Napoli to the Tardini. The sides shared the spoils earlier in the season, as they put on a four goal thriller. The game ending 2-2 with Parma’s Swedish midfielder Tomas Brolin securing a point for Parma. The first half was a tale of two penalties. Napoli’s Brazilian forward Careca was tormenting Parma in the opening stages along with Gianfranco Zola. Within twenty minutes, Naploi were in front. Careca danced past a wild challenge from Georges Grun, who threw himself into a side tackle, as Careca made his way into the box Grun made it back on to his feet and again launched into a clumsy slide tackle, this time he upended the Brazilian. Cool as you like, Careca sent his fellow countryman, Claudio Taffarel the wrong way as he passed the ball into the net from twelve yards. Moments later some shambolic defending allowed Zola to send Careca clean through on Taffarel, Careca had the whole half of the pitch to himself, however the on rushing goalkeeper managed to smother him, before Parma rushed back in numbers to see out the danger. Against the run of play the hosts managed to drag themselves back into the match, Sandro Melli stepped up when Parma were awarded a penalty of their own. With five minutes left before half time Melli struck the ball right through the goalkeeper to square the game up at 1-1. Nevio Scala’s words of wisdom at half time seemed to work. Parma began to pepper Napoli’s goal with various chances, however none clear cut. Parma’s dominance finally paid off. Georges Grun found himself getting on the end of a cross ball in the 90th minute, the Belgian defender bulleted the ball home from close range to redeem himself and secure all three points for Parma. The two sides meet again this week. With Parma struggling for form they would take a repeat of the 1991/92 result as former boss Carlo Ancelotti comes to town. The last time these two met, Napoli steamrollered Parma in what was arguably one of their easies games of the season when they ran out 3-0 winners at the San Paolo.
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