Serie A
Dogfight for Flying Donkeys
Afp, Rome
Chievo, whose six-year stay in Serie A has been nothing short of remarkable given the humble club's limited resources, face a must-win clash at home to relegation rivals Parma on Sunday. Based in the suburbs of Verona and run by the cakemaking Campedelli family, Chievo are third from bottom on 32 points, three behind Parma with just four games left. Not since their promotion to Serie A for the first time in 2001 has Chievo's place in the top flight come under threat. But they now face the very real prospect of returning to Serie B if they suffer defeat at the weekend against a Parma side buoyant after three successive victories. "Our season starts now," said Chievo coach Luigi Del Neri, who rejoined the club in October last year after unsuccessful spells at Roma and Palermo. "We showed great spirit last week against Fiorentina, but ended up with nothing. "However I saw many signs of encouragement, and if we show the same determination and are more clinical when chances come our way, we can beat Parma." Chievo are known as the 'Flying Donkeys' after fans of city rivals Verona said that 'donkeys would fly if Chievo ever made it into Serie A' before they were made to eat their words. In their first season in the top flight, Chievo finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Cup. They finished seventh last season but were elevated to fourth place after various points penalties were handed to those clubs involved in the Italian match-fixing scandal. That meant a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, but they failed to reach the competition proper after losing a two-legged tie against Levski Sofia. Basement boys Ascoli, who visit fellow strugglers Torino, could be relegated this weekend, while second from bottom Messina host champions Inter Milan. AC Milan, who clinched a place in the Champions League final after defeating Manchester United 3-0 on Wednesday, host Fiorentina at the San Siro. Milan will meet Liverpool in the Athens showpiece in a repeat of the 2005 final, which the Merseysiders won on penalties. Docked eight points for their role in the match-fixing scandal, Milan are currently in third place and almost certain of qualifying for the third qualifying round of next season's Champions League. Lazio host Livorno hoping to claim another three points in their pursuit of fourth place.
| 
