Tactical Battles That Will Shape Parma's Clash with Inter Milan

The last time Parma and Inter met, it was a 3-3 thriller. Nicola Sansone's goal to level the score after an hour threatened to inspire a rare San Siro victory for the Crociati, and when it finished in a draw Roberto Donadoni's men were right to feel a little hard done by. 

Both teams have endured mixed fortunes since that game in December and are currently separated by just two points, with Inter in fifth on 53 and Parma in sixth on 51. Fiorentina and Napoli's upcoming Coppa Italia final means that sixth place in the league will also secure Europa League football next year, but Parma and Inter will nonetheless want to finish the season as high as possible. 

They'll also want to put some space between themselves and the chasing pack, with Torino, Milan and Lazio all on 48 points.

Samir Handanovic vs. Parma's Strikers

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

Only the ex-Inter star Antonio Cassano has managed double figures this season for Parma, so goals will likely be hard to come by for the home side against one of the league's best keepers. 

Samir Handanovic had one of the best performances of any keeper all season during Inter's game at Sampdoria last week, making he made a number of key saves to keep the Nerazzurri ahead in the first half, before they eventually ran out 4-0 victors. 

The Slovenian is a hard man to break down and is unlikely to concede three to Parma again. Nicola Sansone, the man who put two past him back in December, is now at Sassuolo, and Marco Parolo, the midfielder who scored the other that night in Milan, has only found the net on seven other occasions this season.

Alessandro Lucarelli and Gabriel Paletta vs. Inter's Forwards

Marco Vasini

If Inter will be relying on their goalie to keep them safe, Donadoni's side will have their trust placed firmly with Alessandro Lucarelli and Gabriel Paletta. 

The pair have been among the best defenders in Serie A this season, with the Argentina-born Paletta even earning a call-up to the Italian national side. 

Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi were both exceptional against Sampdoria in their last outing, and Walter Mazzarri needs more of the same from the South American duo for the rest of the season. 

Lucarelli, in particular, is very strong in the air and likes to tackle, and the club's sporting director recently described Paletta as the best defender in the league. Palacio and Icardi will have their work cut out for them. 

Walter Mazzarri vs. Roberto Donadoni

Marco Vasini

Walter Mazzarri still has plenty of work to do if he's to turn the Inter's fortunes around. While he waits for significant investment in the summer and a chance to shape the team more to his liking, he can make a point of finishing the season with a string of wins, starting at Parma. 

It won't be easy for the Nerazzurri to leave Emilia-Romagna with the three points, however, with Parma having lost at home just twice all season. Additionally, Inter haven't managed a win at the Tardini since 2008. 

Roberto Donadoni's work at Parma has resurrected his career. He took over the Crociati in January 2012 when they were scrapping in the relegation zone and guided them to a respectable eighth-place finish. They ended last term just behind Inter in 10th. Now, they look set to end the campaign in at least sixth, with European football secured for next season, which is no small achievement at a club of Parma's size. 

Both managers are tactically astute, and both have squads capable of winning this game. It's a tough one to call. Inter will be bolstered by their impressive win over Sampdoria and should still have that momentum, but just two weeks ago Parma beat Napoli, so they'll know that they have what it takes as well.