Italy: Parma Panthers host Bergamo Lions in final regular season game of the year

The Parma Panthers will play host to the Bergamo Lions Sunday in the final game of the regular season in Italy for both teams.

The Panthers have already clinched second place in the standings and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Bergamo however, has no chance of climbing into fourth with a win so will play all their playoff games on the road.

This is a game  then for pride and momentum heading into the playoffs.

The Panthers have the third best offense having scored 254 points in nine games while Bergamo is right behind in fourth with 210 points. Parma’s defense leads all teams having surrendered an average of 10.6 points per game while the Lions give up 18.3.

Bergamo has the second best rushing offense in Italy averaging 165 yards rushing per game, while the Panthers boast the best defense against the run allowing just 56.7 yards per contest.

Parma quarterback Tommasso Monardi is among the top five passers in Italy having thrown 1,625 yards and 15 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Bergamo’s quarterback Giorgio Bryant is the third leading rusher in the league with 533 yards rushing. So the offenses have two contrasting styles.

Parma may have a big advantage in kicking as Matteo Felli leads all kickers with 60 points. He has been deadly accurate kicking 11 of 15 field goals and 27 of 31 extra point attempts. He has made the difference more than once during the season particularly in the Panthers overtime win over the Milano Seamen when he kicked the winning field goal. Bergamo must take this into account.