\n<\/p>\n
\t\t<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s Serie A action closes out at Stadio San Siro as runners-up Milan take on bottom-half strugglers Parma in a must-win clash. Anything other than three points here would likely spell the end of the home side\u2019s title hopes.<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite being on the verge of securing a fifth top-four finish in six years, it shapes up to be a disappointing season for Milan. In addition to December\u2019s Supercoppa Italiana heartbreak, the Rossoneri finished their Coppa Italia journey in the Round of 16, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lazio.<\/span><\/p>\n Furthermore, Massimiliano Allegri\u2019s men trail runaway leaders Inter by a staggering ten points after the Nerazzurri\u2019s comfortable 2-0 win at Lecce yesterday. Barring a highly surprising twist in the final stretch, Milan may have to settle for a top-four finish rather than a landmark 20th Scudetto.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite going unbeaten in 24 consecutive league matches since the opening-day loss to Cremonese (W15, D9), a high volume of draws has curtailed Milan\u2019s title ambitions. The San Siro giants shared the spoils in a fateful 1-1 draw against Como in midweek Serie A action, with Rafael Leao rescuing a point for his side with a well-taken goal in the second half.<\/span><\/p>\n As for Parma, they\u2019ve set themselves up perfectly for this trip, winning back-to-back league games against Bologna and Hellas Verona, each by a single-goal margin. In doing so, Carlos Cuesta\u2019s charges have steered eight points clear of 18th-placed Fiorentina, giving themselves a healthy cushion in the relegation scrap and easing the pressure ahead of this daunting visit to San Siro.<\/span><\/p>\n Milan<\/strong><\/p>\n Though gut-wrenching, the draw against Como moved Milan to the brink of history, as they now stand on the verge of going unbeaten in 25 consecutive matches within a single top-flight campaign for the second time in their history. That result makes a victory here all the more important, and they would be wise not to take anything for granted.<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, Allegri\u2019s men have shared the spoils in three of their last five home league outings (W2). Furthermore, they squandered a two-goal lead in a frustrating 2-2 draw at Stadio Ennio Tardini in November\u2019s reverse fixture, highlighting just how tricky this showdown could be for the 19-time Italian champions.<\/span><\/p>\n Against this backdrop, Milan have claimed eight wins across their last ten home clashes against Parma despite failing to keep a clean sheet in their eight most recent meetings here in Serie A. That could be a problem for the hosts, as they\u2019ve scored precisely one goal in five of their last seven home matches.<\/span><\/p>\n Parma<\/strong><\/p>\n Finding the net here would see Parma get on the scoresheet in nine consecutive away games against Milan for the first time in their top-flight history. However, slow out of the blocks, the visitors have netted a league-low seven first-half goals so far this season, suggesting traveling fans may have to wait until the second half for the action to truly come alive.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the Crusaders have found themselves 1-0 down inside the opening 15 minutes in six Serie A matches this season. Avoiding another slow start might go a long way toward helping Parma win three consecutive top-flight games on the road for the first time since March 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite a substantial gulf in class, Parma will likely fancy their chances at San Siro, drawing confidence from an impressive run of four wins from their last seven Serie A road trips (D2, L1). However, they only claimed one point in two matches against Milan\u2019s fellow top-six rivals Napoli and Atalanta during that sequence, suggesting a positive result here won\u2019t be simple to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n Except for long-term absentee Santiago Gimenez, all other Milan stars should be fit for this showdown, though there\u2019s a question mark hovering over the head of Strahinja Pavlovic. Indeed, the Serbian center-back had to come off against Como on Wednesday due to injury.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, Zion Suzuki, Abdoulaye N\u2019Diaye, Pontus Almqvist, and Matija Frigan are struggling with injuries and won\u2019t be at Cuesta\u2019s disposal. Furthermore, Alessandro Circati must serve a yellow-card suspension, leaving Parmas short of reliable defensive options.<\/span><\/p>\n Milan (3-5-2):<\/strong> Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Bartesaghi; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic, Leao.<\/span><\/p>\n Parma (3-5-1-1):<\/strong> Corvi; Del Prato, Troilo, Valenti; Britschgi, Bernabe, Keita, Sorensen, Valeri; Strefezza; Pellegrino.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite Parma\u2019s decent away form, Milan cannot afford a slip-up here, and the hosts have more than enough firepower to break down the visitors\u2019 resistance and secure a routine victory.<\/span><\/p>\n With their title aspirations hanging by a thread, expect the Rossoneri to approach this clash with urgency and intensity, which should ultimately prove too much for a Parma side still prone to defensive lapses.<\/span><\/p>\nMatch Preview<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Team News<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Milan vs Parma Potential Starting Lineups<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Milan vs Parma Prediction<\/strong><\/h2>\n