Brescia's start to the new year has been a disaster as their first half of the season had been. Having gone down 2-1 to Cesena at home in their opening Serie A fixture of 2011, the Rondinelle suffered a 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina in Florence as they allowed a two-goal lead to slip away.
Mario Beretta's side are now second from bottom in Serie A with 15 points from 19 matches and are four points from safety. Brescia have also lost their last three league encounters in a row and have won just one of their last 12 competitive games.
Brescia, though, do have a slightly encouraging record at home as they have won three of the nine league matches played at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti so far this season. They will also be eager to avenge themselves for losing 2-0 to Parma in Week 1 of the campaign.
Chasing Away The Demon
Parma failed to sustain their brilliant display in Serie A last season and struggled in the first half of the 2010-11 campaign. After the Christmas festivities, the Ducali commenced their effort to avoid relegation in full swing and even trained on New Year's Day.
The hard work paid off in their opening match of the new year as they hammered Italian giants Juventus 4-1 in Turin but last weekend they failed to carry the momentum and went down 2-1 to Cagliari at home.
The result means that Parma are now 14th in the league standings with 22 points from 19 matches. Pasquale Marino's side are just four points above the dropzone and cannot relax, as the relegation demon reaches out towards them.
TEAM NEWS
Brescia
Caracciolo, Sereni, Hetemaj, Baiocco and Dallamano are out injured for the home side.
Parma
Dzemaili is suspended for Parma.
Prediction
This is a relegation six-pointer and both sides are in need of maximum points. Brescia are likely to get the prized victory as they are at home but one suspects that it would eventually boil down to a draw.
Brescia 1-1 Parma 
