Parma vs. Lazio, final score 1-1: Draw the right outcome in subdued encounter

After losing 1-0 to Juventus last week, Roberto Donadoni elected to make four changes to his side, with Felipe, Aleandro Rosi, Joel Obi and Raffaele Palladino playing in the places of Pedro Mendes, Jonathan Biabiany, Walter Gargano and Amauri. Vladimir Petković also made four changes to his side that lost 2-0 at home to Genoa, with Diego Novaretti shaking off a knock to join Lorik Cana at centre-back, Hernanes slotting into midfield and Balde Keita coming into the attack, in the places of Luis Pedro Cavanda, the suspended Michael Ciani, Alvaro Gonzalez and Bryan Perea.

Neither side began the match with much in the way of urgency and possession swung back and forth without anyone really taking hold of the encounter. Both sides seemed content to pass the ball around their opponents' penalty area. Lazio only really threatened from free kicks, with both Antonio Candreva and Hernanes sending efforts wide.

The first real chance of the match came in the 23rd minute, after a quick Lazio counter-attack, Miroslav Klose played in Balde Keita, his effort saved and then spilled by Antonio Mirante however he was able to recover before Candreva was able to make it to the ball.

Chances were at a premium in the first half and it took until five minutes before the break for another to present itself, this time to the hosts as some clever build-up play saw Raffaele Palladino end up with a turn and shot that Federico Marchetti had to be quick to get down and save.

The second half was slightly livelier, with substitute Nicola Sansone doing his best to inject some pace for Parma. Five minutes after the resumption of play, he burst forwards before cutting in from the left and his effort was palmed wide by Marchetti. The resulting corner was cleared as far as Candreva who broke up field with pace. Balde Keita joined him and a lucky ricochet landed the ball at the feet of the Senegalese player who then rounded Mirante and slotted into the empty net for his first Serie A goal.

Almost immediately from the resulting kick off, Parma nearly equalised as Antonio Cassano took advantage of a sleeping Lazio defence to get in behind but his shot curled wide of Marchetti's left-hand post.

Parma were soon level however, Alessandro Lucarelli rising highest to beat Lorik Cana and head in Sansone's corner at the near post, a deserved equaliser given the balance of play.