Parma vs Spezia

Parma survived a dramatic night at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, defeating Spezia on penalties after a tense 2-2 draw in regular time. Both sides came into this Coppa Italia second-round clash under pressure to deliver a positive result — Parma looking to regain momentum after a rocky Serie A start, and Spezia eager to prove their quality despite their struggles in Serie B. The match was played under a lively atmosphere, with the home crowd expecting a strong response from Carlos Cuesta’s men.

The first half delivered goals and drama. Parma struck first in the 26th minute when Sascha Britschgi unleashed a superb low strike from outside the box that left Spezia’s keeper flat-footed. Spezia, however, were not content to sit back and found their equalizer in the 44th minute, as Giuseppe Aurelio finished off a flowing move after a clever cross from Luca Vignali. Just as it looked like the teams would go into halftime level, Parma struck again through Mateo Pellegrino, who rose highest to head home Adrian Benedyczak’s corner in first-half stoppage time, sending the Tardini faithful into celebration.

The second half became more complicated for Parma after Elia Plicco was sent off in the 76th minute for a reckless challenge. Reduced to ten men, Parma were forced to drop deeper and defend their lead. Spezia took full advantage of the numerical superiority and pushed hard for a second goal. Their persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when Gianluca Lapadula equalized with a powerful header, forcing the game to a nerve-wracking finale as Parma desperately tried to hang on.

With no extra time in this stage of the Coppa Italia, the match went straight to penalties after a 2-2 draw. Both teams converted their first attempts, but the turning point came when Spezia’s third shooter sent his effort wide of the post. Parma kept their composure from the spot, converting all but one of their kicks to claim a 4-3 shootout victory. Goalkeeper Chichizola was decisive, saving Spezia’s final penalty to secure Parma’s progression.

For Parma, the win is a massive morale boost, even if the performance left room for improvement. Playing nearly 15 minutes with ten men tested their resolve, but Cuesta’s squad showed character and mental strength to advance. Spezia will leave disappointed but can take positives from their aggressive second-half display and the fact they pushed a top-flight side all the way. Parma now look ahead to a Round of 16 meeting with Bologna, where they will hope to ride this momentum and continue their cup run.

Watch and Download Parma vs Spezia full match replay and highlights, At Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The match played at Stadio Ennio Tardini, in Coppa Italia, Italy.

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