Preseason Fixtures

23 July in Aosta: triangular tournament featuring Parma, Inter and Napoli (8.30pm local time)
(Click here for report)

26 July in Morgex: Parma take on local side (afternoon kick-off; time to be announced)

Result: (Only) PARMA 22-0 Morgex XI (9-0 at half time)
Goalscorers: Di Vaio (7), Mboma (4), Amoroso e Saccani (3), Basso (2), Bonazzoli, Sartor, Fuser
Parma starting line-up: Micillo, Sartor, Torrisi, P.Cannavaro, Strada, Appiah, Saccani, Fuser, Montano, Amoroso, Bonazzoli.

28 July in Lisbon: Parma-Sporting Lisbon (9pm local time) Click here for a brief report

5 August in Morgex: Parma-local side (afternoon kick-off, time to be agreed)

Parma's Morgex opponents were Ivrea, who they beat 5-2. Two goals from Savo and one each from Amoroso, Ortega and Di Vaio. The squad have now returned to Parma and training will commence on Monday at the Collechio.

10 August in Genoa: Genoa-Parma (8.45pm local time)

Genoa won the Spagnolo Trophy in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 2-2 at the end of normal time.

13 August in Liverpool: Parma-Liverpool (3pm local time) GAME REPORT HERE

18th August

PALANZANO-PARMA 0-13
Scorers: 9' Mboma, 18' Di Vaio, 29' Fuser, 33' Appiah, 37' Appiah, 51' Di Vaio, 60' Bonazzoli, 61' Bonazzoli, 63' Montano, 72' Di Vaio, 74' Di Vaio (p), 78' Di Vaio, 83' Montano

PALANZANO: Marani, Fracassi (S.Vicini), Baiocchi, Galvani, Molinari (M.Vicini), Schianchi (Campelli), Berini (Montali Diego), Zucchellini (Rossi), Gola (Cavalli), Montali Davide, Maggiali (Boraschi). (Subs not used: Dalla Giovanna). Coach. Dalcielo

PARMA (3-4-1-2): Micillo (Guardalben); Sartor (P.Cannavaro), Baggio, F.Cannavaro (Benarrivo); Fuser (Strada), Lamouchi (D'Imporzano), Appiah (D'Alterio), Maini (Saccani); Montano; Di Vaio, Mboma (Bonazzoli). Coach. Malesani

24 August Athletic Bilbao-Parma (8.30pm local time) ?????????

On 25th August, Gianmarco Radice posted this to the parma-l:

Last night Parma played a friendly against Real Saragozza, arranged in the deal for Milosevic. After being 2-0 at the end of the first half, Parma showed some character and managed to equalise the score with goals from Fuser and a last minute effort by Di Vaio. Parma eventually lost on penalties following misses by Fuser and Bonazzoli. Positive notes from the game come from a 'never say die' attitude from the team. Attitude that was questioned after the dissapointing 5-0 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool. Individually Milosevic had a good game, although he is still lacking match fitness. Di Vaio continues his impressive pre-season form, and will prove to be a key player coming on as a sub, or when called upon to replace Amoroso. Appiah and Lamouchi, orchestrated the midfield very well in the second half. Montano is displaying impressive skills and an increased physical maturity. On the negative side, Baggio is still getting used to his new position, and a blunder by him and Sartor led to Saragozza's second goal.

Thanks GIANMARCO! :) What happened to Bilbao though?!? :)

31 August Valencia-Parma (9pm local time)

An understrength Parma beat an understrength Valencia on penalties (Torrissi scoring the winner) after the game ended 0-0. I can't read too much into this, although Malesani is seeing it as an important victory after the disappointments (and downright hopelessness!) of the previous preseason games. Official Site match report.

5 September: Parma-Valencia (9pm)

We lost 3-1 to a totally make-do Valencia side. This is not GOOD! Here's what the official site had to say about the game (I could put a link - but it might disappear)

VALENCIA WIN MARSH TROPHY

They've met twice in a week and shared the spoils. After Parma walked away with the ‘Valencia Naranja’ trophy by virtue of their penalty win at the Mestalla stadium on Spanish soil, this time it was the turn of Valencia to steel the home team's thunder winning the Marsh trophy at Parma's expense in the Tardini stadium. Even though Parma worked tirelessly, the Spaniards were more incisive and hard to break down.
Things actually started well for the Gialloblu, when on 4 minutes - after a mistake in the Valencia defence - Johan Micoud went past the keeper, but his shot was blocked by the back tracking Valencia rearguard. The ball then fell to Milosevic, but before he could get a shot in, Valencia defender, Elias, hoofed it out for a corner. Three minutes later Marcio Amoroso tested Canizares in the Valencia goal but the Spanish international keeper was not found wanting.

Parma's play was full of attacking promise, especially on the flanks where Sergio Conceiçao never stopped running. But on 16 minutes it was Valencia who opened the scoring through Vicente, after the striker met a low cross from Juan Sanchez.

Parma replied immediately with a thunderous effort from Micoud that flew just over the bar after 20 minutes. They looked dangerous again on 24 minutes thanks to a sublime dummy from the Frenchman, which almost put in Milosevic.

Half an hour in Diego Fuser ran down the wing before putting in a looping cross, which almost caught out Canizares. A minute later Bernard Lamouchi had a shot, which unfortunately missed the target.

On 39 minutes Valencia made it 2-0 when Juan Sanchez came in from the left and unchallenged put the ball past the helpless Gigi Buffon. This body blow was then followed by a third Valencia goal on 47 minutes by Carew after some impressive play out on the right.

The second half was a different affair, however, as Alberto Malesani rang the changes bringing on six players. After only one minute of play Patrick Mboma was upended by Parri in the area. The Cameroon striker then stepped up and coolly to slot home the penalty.

Parma looked dangerous again on 61 minutes when a Conceicao free kick found Fabio Cannavaro whose header brought out a good save from Canizares. Valencia also came close on 75 minutes when with only Buffon to beat Carew put the ball wide. The final stages saw Parma come close again, firstly through Mboma who just failed to connect to a Javier Montano through ball and then through Emiliano Bonazzoli who missed a sitter on 88 minutes after some good work from Mboma.

PARMA 1-3 VALENCIA
Goalscorers: 16 Vicente, 39 Juan Sanchez, 45 Carew, 47 Mboma (pen)

Booked: 67 Parri, 71 Montano, 80 Lamouchi

PARMA (3-4-1-2): Buffon; Sartor, Baggio (46 Torrisi), Thuram (46 F.Cannavaro); Conceiçao (83 Bonazzoli), Lamouchi, Maini (46 Bolano), Fuser (73 Falsini); Micoud (46 Montano); Milosevic (46 Mboma), Amoroso (46 Di Vaio). (Subs not used: Guardalben, P.Cannavaro, Strada) Manager. Malesani

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Canizares; Gerardo, Amarilla, Djukic, Elias; Parri (73 Albiol), Milla (64 Enguix), Brines, Vicente (89 Barber); Carew, Juan Sanchez (85 Castillo). (Subs not used: Palop, Sanjulian). Manager. Cuper

REFEREE: Racalbuto from Gallarate
ASSISTANT REFEREES Ragone and Tita

SPECTATORS 14,480