Midfield injection for Piacenza

Piacenza FC have signed two midfield players on loan to boost their battle against relegation.

Loan signings
The club have brought in Parma AC winger Marco Marchionni and Juventus FC midfield player Davide Baiocco until the end of the season as they try to raise themselves from their current position in Serie A. Piacenza are third from bottom of the Italian top flight with 13 points from 18 matches.

Swap deal
Former Italian Under-21 international Marchionni has come to Piacenza with 29-year-old former Bologna FC and AC Milan defender Giuseppe Cardone moving to Parma in exchange.

Valuable experience
Marchionni has been limited to just five appearances for Parma this season after joining the club from Empoli FC in 2001. Cardone, playing in his ninth consecutive Serie A season, will add some valuable experience to Parma's young defence.

Bright start
Baiocco made a fine start to the current campaign, playing seven league games for Juventus and making four appearances in their UEFA Champions League campaign after joining the club from AC Perugia last summer.

Stiff competition
However, the 28-year-old has found first-team opportunities harder to come by more recently, as he competes with players like Alessio Tacchinardi, Edgar Davids and Pavel Nedved for a place in Marcello Lippi's starting lineup. He has accepted the offer of a move to Piacenza to get regular first-team football and his experience and discipline will be a major bonus for Andrea Agostinelli's struggling side.