Parma vs AS Roma: Serie A Clash of Ambitions

Stadio Ennio Tardini hosts a meeting of contrasting ambitions on 10 May 2026, as 12th‑placed Parma welcome 5th‑placed AS Roma in Serie A. With three rounds left in the league’s regular season, Parma are edging towards safety and respectability, while Roma are locked in a tight race to secure European football, currently sitting in the Europa League spots.

Context and stakes

In the league, Parma arrive in mid‑table at rank 12 with 42 points from 35 games, goal difference -17 (25 scored, 42 conceded). Their recent league form reads “LWWDD”, suggesting a side that has steadied after a difficult stretch but still struggles to impose itself consistently.

Roma, by contrast, are pushing at the top end. They are 5th with 64 points from 35 matches, boasting a +23 goal difference (52 for, 29 against). Their form line “WWDWL” underlines a side that wins far more often than not and has the quality to respond quickly to setbacks.

For Parma, this is about finishing strongly at home and proving they can compete with the league’s elite. For Roma, any slip could be costly in the European race, especially with their away record showing both threat and vulnerability.

Tactical outlook: Parma

Across all phases, Parma’s numbers paint the picture of a compact, low‑scoring side. They have scored just 25 goals in 35 matches (0.7 per game) while conceding 42 (1.2 per game). At Ennio Tardini, the pattern is even starker: 13 goals scored and 22 conceded in 17 home fixtures. That is only 0.8 goals for and 1.3 against per home game.

Tactically, Parma have been flexible but with a clear preference for three at the back. Their most used formation is 3‑5‑2 (16 matches), with occasional switches to 4‑3‑3 (6), 3‑4‑2‑1 (4) and other variants. The 3‑5‑2 base suggests they will likely look to crowd central areas, protect the box, and use the wing‑backs to escape pressure and support transitions.

Defensively, they have managed 12 clean sheets across all phases (4 at home, 8 away), showing that when their block is well‑organised, they can frustrate opponents. However, they have also failed to score in 15 of 35 games, including 7 at home, underlining their chronic attacking issues.

Discipline could be a factor. Parma’s yellow‑card distribution is heavily weighted to the second half, particularly between 46‑60 and 76‑90 minutes, where they pick up a combined 26 yellows. That hints at a side that can become stretched or forced into late challenges as games open up.

In attack, the key figure is Mateo Pellegrino. The Argentine forward has 8 league goals and 1 assist in 34 appearances, leading Parma’s scoring chart. His volume of duels (495, with 213 won) and fouls drawn (63) shows he is the focal point for long balls and link play, often battling physically to hold up possession. He averages 50 shots (21 on target) and is also Parma’s designated penalty taker in practice, with 1 scored and 0 missed this season. If Parma are to threaten Roma, Pellegrino’s ability to pin centre‑backs and win set‑pieces will be crucial.

In terms of absentees, Parma are definitely without M. Frigan (knee injury, listed as “Missing Fixture”), removing one attacking option. B. Cremaschi (knee injury) and M. Mena (injury) are both questionable, potentially limiting rotation and depth, particularly in midfield and wide areas.

Tactical outlook: AS Roma

Roma’s season profile is that of a proactive, front‑foot side with a solid defensive base. They have 52 goals in 35 league matches (1.5 per game) and concede just 29 (0.8 per game). Away from home, they have scored 21 and conceded 19 in 17 games, averaging 1.2 for and 1.1 against. That away record (8 wins, 1 draw, 8 defeats) is high‑variance: they either impose themselves or get caught out.

Formationally, Roma are remarkably consistent. They have used 3‑4‑2‑1 in 27 matches, with occasional switches to 3‑4‑1‑2 and 3‑5‑2. Expect a back three, double pivot, wing‑backs providing width, and two attacking midfielders working close to the central striker. This shape will test Parma’s back line with overloads between the lines and wide rotations.

Defensively, Roma have kept 16 clean sheets across all phases (10 at home, 6 away), a strong platform that underpins their European push. They have failed to score in only 7 matches, indicating that they usually find a way through.

The standout attacking figure is Donyell Malen. The Dutch forward has 11 goals and 2 assists in just 15 league appearances, with a strong rating (7.32). He has 40 shots (24 on target) and a notable dribbling output (34 attempts, 13 successful). Malen also has 2 penalties scored with 0 missed, making him a reliable option from the spot. His movement into channels and ability to shoot early could be a major problem for Parma’s three‑man defence, especially if wing‑backs are forced back.

Roma also carry some fitness concerns. A. Dovbyk (groin injury), E. Ferguson (ankle), L. Pellegrini (thigh) and B. Zaragoza (knee) are all listed as questionable. If one or more of those attacking and creative players miss out, it could reduce Roma’s ability to rotate and change games from the bench, but the core structure and Malen’s presence remain intact.

Discipline‑wise, Roma’s yellow cards spike between 46‑75 minutes and again from 76‑90, similar to Parma, suggesting an aggressive, high‑intensity approach in the second half. They also have two red cards in the 46‑75 minute window, underlining that their intensity can sometimes spill over.

Head‑to‑head record

Looking at the last five competitive meetings in Serie A:

• On 29 October 2025 at Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma beat Parma 2-1.
• On 16 February 2025 at Stadio Ennio Tardini, AS Roma beat Parma 0-1.
• On 22 December 2024 at Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma beat Parma 5-0.
• On 14 March 2021 at Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma beat AS Roma 2-0.
• On 22 November 2020 at Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma beat Parma 3-0.

That gives Roma 4 wins, Parma 1 win, and 0 draws in the last five league meetings. Crucially, Roma have won their last three against Parma, including the most recent trip to Ennio Tardini by a 0-1 scoreline.

Key battles

• Parma’s back three vs Malen and Roma’s front line: Parma’s biggest home defeat margin is 1-4, and their heaviest away loss is 4-0, showing that when their structure collapses, it can go badly. Containing Malen’s runs and preventing Roma’s attacking midfielders from finding pockets will be paramount.
• Midfield density vs Roma’s wing‑backs: Parma’s 3‑5‑2 can match Roma’s numbers centrally, but Roma’s wing‑backs can pin Parma’s wide players deep. The team that controls those flanks will likely control territory.
• Set‑pieces and penalties: Parma have scored 2 of 2 penalties across all phases; Roma have converted 4 of 4. With both sides relying on tight margins, any spot‑kick could tilt the balance.

The verdict

Roma arrive with superior league position, better goal difference, and a more potent attack, led by an in‑form Donyell Malen. Their recent head‑to‑head record is clearly in their favour, and even though their away form is mixed, they have shown they can win at Ennio Tardini, as in the 0-1 victory in February 2025.

Parma’s low scoring rate and reliance on defensive solidity suggest they will aim to keep the game tight, lean on Mateo Pellegrino’s physical presence, and hope to exploit set‑pieces. However, Roma’s structure in a 3‑4‑2‑1, their clean‑sheet record, and their attacking ceiling make them logical favourites.

Barring a particularly resilient defensive display from Parma or a spate of decisive absences in Roma’s attacking ranks, the data points towards an away win, likely in a relatively controlled, low‑to‑medium scoring encounter.