Parma clinches first Serie A win as Pellegrino shines
Parma defeated Torino 2-1 in a fiery Serie A clash at the Ennio Tardini, with Mateo Pellegrino delivering a decisive brace that overturned an early setback and handed the home side Cuesta’s first league victory in charge. The derby was intense from the opening minutes, featuring a tightly contested midfield battle and a string of dangerous transitions that kept the surface of the match lively until the final whistle.
Match flow: Torino press, Parma respond
The visitors from Turin started with high-intensity pressing, trying to suffocate Parma’s build-up and force errors high up the pitch. Asllani and Casadei pushed forward to deny Bernabé and Keita service, while Baroni’s backline looked to deal with long balls aimed at Pellegrino. Parma, forced into some early rough patches, adjusted to a 3-4-2-1 shape and tried to stretch Torino with quick transitions, hoping the ball would land at the feet of the Argentine striker when the pass quality allowed it.
The turning point: Pellegrino’s penalty and a late winner
The match’s crucial moment arrived from a set-piece. Valeri delivered a corner that exposed the zones in Baroni’s defense, and Parma broke the deadlock through a penalty converted by Pellegrino after a controversial handball call in the box. The strike gave Parma the cushion they needed to go into the break level, but the real drama would come after halftime. Torino found a leveller as Ngonge produced a sharp finish, briefly tilting the momentum back in favor of the visitors.
Yet Parma would not be denied. In the second half, Pellegrino struck again, this time from a corner routine sparked by Valeri. The Parma defense failed to clear, and the ball found Pellegrino at the edge of the area, who planted a composed finish past the Torino goalkeeper. The decisive 2-1 arrived thanks to that set-piece, underscoring how a single precise moment can alter the course of a derby.
Tactical notes: Cuesta and Baroni in a chess match
Cuesta made a tactical switch to try and gain ground against Torino’s aggressive pressing, opting for a slightly more compact back line and a front three that could press in advance of the midfield. Oristanio’s limited influence forced Cuesta to bring in Benedyczak for more presence high up the pitch and to probe the visitors’ low blocks. Torino, for their part, adjusted with a late switch to a more attacking 4-4-2 after Adams entered, deploying Ngonge and Simeone as the focal points, but Parma’s structure in and around the box ultimately held firm after the second goal.
Defensive lapses, especially on aerial balls, emerged as a recurring theme for Torino in the opening stages of the season, a problem reflected in the 10 goals conceded in the first five rounds. The performance in this derby suggested that improvement in organization and set-piece discipline will be essential if Baroni’s side hopes to climb the table in the coming weeks.
What this win means for both teams
For Parma, the win provides a significant lift, both in morale and in the standings. It is a breakthrough moment for Cuesta, who can now point to a concrete result to build around as the team searches for consistency after a difficult start. The atmosphere in the stands, with several club legends in attendance, underlined the importance of the result for the club’s long-term confidence and identity.
Torino, meanwhile, will be left to reassess their approach. The derby highlighted their attacking potential but also exposed vulnerabilities in defense and in transition, particularly on set-pieces. If they can tighten the back line and reclaim their efficiency in front of goal, they have the tools to bounce back in the next matchdays. This 2-1 defeat, while painful, could serve as a wake-up call that sparks better performance in the coming fixtures.
