After three consecutive promotions, Parma quickly made it back to the top flight of Italian football and it was a successful return with a comfortable mid-table finish.
Roberto D'Aversa's men picked up a lot of their points in the first half of the season as many teams didn't quite seem to know how to deal with their mix of high pressing and devastating counter-attacking. Indeed, the Ducali were always a threat away from home and won as many games on the road as they did at the Tardini this season.
Some eyebrows were raised when Gervinho was brought back to Italian football after leaving Roma for China but he was a massive part of Parma's tactics and success. His pace, trickery and ability to run with the ball provides the x-factor in this team. The Ivorian's solo goal from inside his own half against Cagliari remains one of the Serie A highlights of the season. Roberto Inglese provided a focal point for Gervinho to work off but when those two weren't on form, the Ducali struggled. Only the bottom three conceded more goals despite Luigi Sepe proving himself as a top keeper and Bruno Alves surprisingly still able to perform at an advanced age.
Parma's season petered out towards the end with just 1 win from their last 11 Serie A games but they put enough good work in the bank early in the season to stay away from danger. The goal now will be to consolidate their top flight status.
