AC Milan’s unbeaten run came to an end at San Siro on Sunday night as they were beaten 1-0 by Parma, which likely ends any faint title hopes too.
Milan missed chance after chance to make it an easier evening for themselves, with Rafael Leao’s volley being symbolic of the night as he crashed it against the inside of the post and it somehow rolled across the line but didn’t go in.
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Then, in the closing minutes, Parma got what would prove to be the winning goal. Troilo headed in a corner and it was initially ruled out for a foul, yet after a VAR review the goal was given.
It means that the unbeaten streak comes to a close on 24 games, and with Inter now 10 points clear at the top, attention turns to a battle for a Champions League spot rather than the Scudetto.
Massimiliano Allegri made a number of changes from the team that drew with Como in midweek, with Davide Bartesaghi at left centre-back, Pervis Estupinan at wing-back, Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield, Adrien Rabiot returning from suspension, plus a front two of Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic.
In what was somewhat of a surprise, Milan took to the field in their new fourth kit in collaboration with Slam Jam. There was a late line-up change for the coach to make too: Matteo Gabbia pulled up during the warm-ups complaining of muscle discomfort so he was withdrawn, with Koni De Winter taking his place.
First half: Foreshadowing what was to come
Inside the second minute Mike Maignan was called into action for the first minute. A cross from the left side somehow found its way to an unmarked Pellegrino in the middle, whose hooked volley was turned behind. The resulting corner forced a scramble, which Maignan was again alert to, blocking an attempt from close range.
Allegri’s plans – ones that were being carried out by Marco Landucci due to suspension – were further disrupted in the seventh minute. Alexis Saelemaekers sent in a rabona cross that Loftus-Cheek tried to meet, but his head collided with Corvi’s, and he had to be taken off due to concussion protocol with Ardon Jashari coming on.
Milan began to assume the ascendancy, and had their first shot on goal in the 16th minute through the substitute Jashari. Estupinan squared to the Swiss midfielder inside the box and he just about managed to scramble an effort through a crowd, though the goalkeeper gathered relatively easily in the end.
The Rossoneri continued to turn the screw and had some joy in central areas. Firstly Pulisic found space to shoot from the edge of the area but it was too central to cause issue, then Jashari let fly from about 25 yards with a rocket of a shot that again was down the middle of the goal and saved.
Right on the half-hour mark, Milan tested Corvi again with a free-kick from the left side that was beautifully floated in by Luka Modric and nodded on target by De Winter, though lacked the direction to nestle into the net.
The chances continued to come and go for Milan. Pulisic was fed nicely down the right side of the box by Saelemaekers yet he shot straight at Corvi from close range, then the Belgian found space to let fly from 20 yards but curled it wide of the post.
Milan’s shooting boots had clearly been left in the dressing room: Pulisic was again guilty of spurning a chance three minutes before the break, with a knock-down finding the American and his first-time shot dragging narrowly past the post.
Second half: Parma land sucker punch
Milan started the second half on top and managed to stop Parma’s attempts to play out. Rabiot became the latest to fire on goal in minute 50, pulling an attempt wide of the post. Shortly after Leao went on a jinking dart in off the left and went down but no penalty was awarded, and he got a yellow card for retaliating when a Parma player accused him of diving.
Leao was at the centre of another pearly appeal shortly after, this time going down under a challenge from the goalkeeper Corvi after a great ball in behind by Saelemaekers. The rebound fell to Pulisic with the goal gaping, yet a heroic recovery challenge thwarted him too.
Allegri chose to make two changes just after he hour mark, with Strahinja Pavlovic and Niclas Füllkrug coming on for Estupinan and Pulisic.
Milan were beginning to think that it just wasn’t their day when a recycled corner was clipped towards Leao at the far post, who struck a volley sweetly that rattled off the inside of the upright, rolling across the goal line and out.
It was attack against defence heading into the final 20 minutes, with Parma clinging on for the point they started with. Bartesaghi provided a good delivery from a free-kick on the right which Pavlovic met with his head, but sent over the bar.
Inside the final 10 minutes there was a hugely controversial incident from which Parma took the lead. Troilo arrived to head in a corner at the far post from which it looked like he had fouled his man and Maignan was impeded, so the referee blew for a foul. He was then called to the VAR monitor and – after a review of around three minutes – he gave the goal.
The Rossoneri went in search of an equaliser to keep their unbeaten run, and Füllkrug came close to finding it when he turned and shot inside the area, yet it took a slight deflection into the side netting.
so, 60 mins in, we’re in the ascendency but clearly need to bring a 3rd forward on, and this guy instead brings on a FOURTH CENTRE BACK?? I don’t know what to say anymore, he’s sick in the head.
Honestly I prefer the defeat rather than another draw. Another draw means they can still drag about the unbeaten run. While a lost should be enough to give a slap in the face. Oh and congrats Inter for the Scudetto.
Crap game
With RedBird we don’t have a sporting project or any sort of ambition. Top 4 (with relatively comfortable advance) is already a miracle. The rest… it was fun while it lasted. We almost forgot who our owners are.
This has nothing to do with Redbird. This is the real ‘new Milan’. We played like this even during the early days of Pioli – slow, lazy football; believing there’s time, until our opponent scores. Whoever bought Estupinan has to start making arrangements to offload by summer.
It was bound to happen sooner or later. But we didn’t learn anything we hadn’t already known – we don’t have the personnel to break down the low block. Nor do we have enough quality on the bench to affect games.
None of our players have the ball control in tight spaces and our build up is incredibly slow and predictable …
Semua Management Milan GOBLOK. TIDAK BELI PEMAIN BERKUALITAS,INI SEMUA KESALAHAN MANAGEMENT DAN PEMILIK CARDINALE YANG TIDAK BECUS MEMBELI PEMAIN DAN MENGELUARKAN DANA UNTUK MEMBELI PEMAIN. PERCUMA PUNYA PELATIH SEPERTI ALLEGI,TETAPI TIDAK MEMBERIKAN PEMAIN BERKUALITAS. BELI PEMAIN,HANYA PEMAIN YANG UZUR DAN PEMAIN KELAS KEDUA.
Mr Allegri his so stubborn and has to take the blame for this defeat, even has a fan, the best formation for this Milan team is 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 formation, you keep playing 5-3-2 even for small teams, your football is so boring, change your style of football.
1.After first half 0-1 with Como. And substitution another defender
2. After first half 0-0 with Parma. Substitution another defender
He is sick.
I really love this defeat more than the draw,may be this old style coach will have some sense into his head that you don’t have to be playing the same pattern, formation with even the smaller teams, also that useless, senseless belief he has that you win matches only at the last 15minutes.Nonsense ,he keeps losing points and they keep bragging about unbeaten, let’s hear them talk about unbeaten now
he won’t change though. He needs to go
This defeat must be bastoni fault’s , right?