AC Milan squandered a two goal lead vs Parma yesterday, failing to get a win that would have taken them 2 points clear at the top of Serie A even if only momentarily. Milan took an early lead in the 12th minute through Alexis Saelemaekers and doubled it a Rafael Leao pen in the 25th as it looked like they would cruise to victory but Parma kept fighting and got one back just before half-time and they carried that momentum into the second half to get their equaliser 17 minutes after the restart.
Both sides lined up in a 352 formation, Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku were the two up top for Milan with Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Saelemaekers on the left and right as wingbacks, Luka Modric was amongst the midfielders again as he continues to impress in Italy. For Parma, Mateo Pellegrino and Patrick Cutrone were the two up top with Mathias Fjortoft Lovik and Sascha Britschgi on the left and right flanks respectively.
From minute 1, the match between Parma and AC Milan was a lively affair. Both teams started with great intensity and a battle for possession developed in midfield, as they both sought an early goal. However, the initial threat came from the visitors. In the 9th minute, AC Milan crafted the first major opportunity when Rafael Leão delivered a dangerous low cross, which required a last-ditch intervention by Lautaro Valenti to deny Christopher Nkunku a tap-in.
That was a clear sign of Milan’s attacking intent, and just three minutes later, they broke the deadlock. Alexis Saelemaekers received an assist from Christopher Nkunku and opened the scoring with a precise, low left-footed strike from the edge of the box into the bottom-left corner.
AC Milan extended their lead shortly after. In the 20th minute, Saelemaekers was once again central to the action, drawing a penalty after a weaving run that was ended by a foul from Abdoulaye Ndiaye. Following a VAR On-Field Review, the penalty decision stood. Rafael Leão stepped up in the 25th minute and converted the spot-kick with a powerful shot into the bottom-left corner, doubling Milan’s advantage.
With a two-goal lead, Milan appeared comfortable, but Parma started to press for a way back into the game. In the 38th minute, Parma captain Enrico Delprato attempted to score with a header, but the effort was off target. Just before the break, Christopher Nkunku had a right-footed shot that went wide, another wayward shot in a half that Milan had largely controlled.
However, the hosts were handed a lifeline in the 45+1st minute. Adrián Bernabé halved the deficit, scoring a brilliant left-footed curling effort into the far top corner just before the half-time whistle blew in the 45+2nd minute.
Parma emerged for the second half with renewed aggression. They made an immediate change, with Emanuele Troilo replacing Abdoulaye Ndiaye. The hosts created chances quickly, forcing the Milan defense to intervene, as Pervis Estupiñán made a crucial intervention in the six-yard box to deny Mateo Pellegrino in the 51st minute. Two minutes later, Enrico Delprato was unable to beat a vigilant Mike Maignan in the Milan goal. Bernabé tried to replicate his first-half magic in the 57th minute, attempting to curl another shot into the top corner, but this time the wayward shot lifted well over the crossbar.
Milan’s manager, Massimiliano Allegri, responded by making a tactical switch in the 60th minute, substituting Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Christopher Nkunku. However, the substitution did little to stop Parma’s surge. In the 62nd minute, Enrico Delprato scored the equalizer with a perfectly timed header from a Sascha Britschgi cross, completing the two-goal comeback.
Parma continued their momentum with a change in the 68th minute, as Vasyl Valeri replaced Mathias Løvik. Allegri immediately countered with a double substitution in the 70th minute, bringing on Christian Pulisic for Samuele Ricci and Davide Bartesaghi for Pervis Estupiñán. Milan also saw a yellow card issued to Luka Modrić in the 70th minute.
Substitute Christian Pulisic had a golden chance to immediately restore Milan’s lead in the 76th minute, running onto a Leão flick, but he drilled his shot wide of the post with only the goalkeeper to beat. Parma made their final substitution in the 80th minute, with Hernani replacing goalscorer Adrián Bernabé. The physical nature of the game saw another yellow card issued to Parma’s Oliver Sørensen in the 85th minute. Milan made their final substitution in the 87th minute, bringing on Emerson Athekame for Koni De Winter.
As the game entered added time, Milan pushed hard for a winner. In the 90th minute, Luka Modrić tested the goalkeeper from distance, forcing Zion Suzuki to spill the shot before regathering just ahead of a sliding Pulisic. Parma made their final change in the 90+1st minute, with Benjamín Cremaschi replacing Patrick Cutrone. The last notable action saw Youssouf Fofana prod a low cross from Loftus-Cheek wide from seven yards in the 90+5th minute, concluding the end-to-end action. The final whistle confirmed the dramatic 2-2 draw.
