Parma edge Chievo in thriller

The Ducali were in crisis, failing to pick up a single point and with an injury crisis, including Jonathan Biabiany stopped indefinitely by a heart arrhythmia. Gabriel Paletta, Mattia Cassani, Soufine Bidaoui and the suspended Dias Felipe also missed out. Parma were fresh from a 5-4 defeat to Milan, but the Flying Donkeys earned a shock 1-0 victory away to Napoli.

It took just four minutes for Chievo to make Parma’s week even worse, asValter Birsa failed to get the tap-in on Dejan Lazarevic’s pull-back, but the ball continued through for Mariano Izco.

Ishak Belfodil’s glancing header from a corner was dangerous and FrancescoBardi performed a stunning point-blank reaction save on Antonio Cassano’sflick-on from a Francesco Lodi free kick.

Maxi Lopez went on the counter and his angled drive skimmed the back post, while Parma had the ball in the net only after Alessandro Lucarelli’s obvious handball.

Maxi Lopez fired straight at Antonio Mirante after the restart, as Chievo left the initiative to the visitors and played solely on the counter.

The pressure paid off, as Massimo Coda robbed Lazarevic and set up AntonioCassano for a fierce strike into the far top corner, leaving Bardi with no chance, as it swerved viciously.

Having set up the equaliser, substitute Coda then turned the game around completely, as Chievo were punished for their negative approach. He trapped the ball brilliantly to fire in on the half-volley.

Moments later it was 3-1, as a cross was chested down for Cassano to lash under the bar from eight yards.

It still wasn’t over, as Chievo counted on their own super-sub when AlbertoPaloschi bundled over the line from a corner.

The hosts poured forward in a desperate bid to claw back a point, but it was too little, too late.