A frustrated AC Milan will hope to put their Como setback behind them when they welcome Parma on Sunday.
A historic milestone beckons for AC Milan this weekend as they return to San Siro with both pride and pressure on the line in the game against Parma. The Rossoneri are chasing their longest Serie A unbeaten run in more than three decades, but sentiment alone will not close the gap at the summit. With city rivals Inter still setting the pace, every dropped point carries extra weight.
Standing in their way are a Parma side who have quietly built one of the season’s more resilient campaigns and arrive in Milan with little to lose.
Under the guidance of Massimiliano Allegri, Milan have rediscovered consistency. The home side’s midweek draw against Como extended their league unbeaten streak to 24 matches, a run stretching back to the opening weekend of the season. Yet that same stalemate also underlined the fine margins in a title race where Inter remain firmly in control.
Milan sit seven points adrift of their city rivals. While the Rossoneri have shown admirable resilience, recovering from setbacks and grinding out results when not at their fluent best, the inability to consistently convert dominance into victories could prove decisive.
Historically, the numbers are impressive. Only once before have Milan strung together a longer unbeaten sequence in Serie A, the iconic 34-game run during the 1991/92 campaign. Matching or surpassing such a benchmark would cement this squad’s place in club lore, but the immediate focus is more pragmatic: maintain pressure at the top.
San Siro has been a fortress. AC Milan have collected 25 points from 36 available at home, and they have won eight of their last ten meetings with Parma on this ground. The psychological edge is clear, and recent head-to-head patterns favour the hosts heavily.
Still, the Rossoneri will know that control must be sharper. Defensive lapses, even isolated ones, have occasionally crept in, and in a title pursuit, there is little room for generosity. On the other hand, Parma may not carry the glamour of their hosts, but they travel north buoyed by genuine momentum.
Under the stewardship of Carlos Cuesta, the Gialloblu have constructed a disciplined and competitive unit capable of unsettling bigger opponents. Their recent victories have not been straightforward. A narrow win in Bologna required composure, while last weekend’s success against Hellas Verona demanded patience and resilience, particularly after spending a significant portion of the contest against reduced opposition.
Mateo Pellegrino’s late header once again proved decisive, highlighting Parma’s persistence in tight encounters. Tactically, Cuesta has fostered balance. Parma defend with structure and transition with purpose, often relying on wide channels and aerial presence to create opportunities. Their away record is especially noteworthy: just four defeats in 12 road fixtures.
That return compares favourably with several clubs currently chasing European qualification. Now sitting 12th with 29 points, their strongest tally at this stage since 2020, Parma are edging closer to securing another year of top-flight football. Survival may not yet be mathematically confirmed, but belief within the camp is unmistakable.
AC Milan will dominate possession, seeking to stretch Parma’s defensive block and isolate key attackers in one-on-one situations. Expect Rafael Leao to be central to their attacking thrust, particularly down the left flank where his acceleration can destabilise compact defences.
Parma, meanwhile, are unlikely to engage in an open contest. A compact mid-block and disciplined pressing triggers will be deployed to frustrate Milan’s rhythm. Quick transitions and set-pieces may represent their clearest route to goal.
The key battle could lie in midfield control. If Milan dictate tempo early, the contest may tilt decisively. However, if Parma can disrupt passing lanes and draw the crowd into impatience, the dynamic shifts. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
AC Milan
AC Milan will once again be without head coach Massimiliano Allegri on the touchline, as the Italian serves another suspension following his dismissal in midweek. His absence will not alter the system, but it does remove an experienced voice from the technical area at a moment when composure could be decisive.
There is better news in midfield, where Adrien Rabiot returns from suspension and is expected to slot straight back into the starting XI. His presence adds balance, physicality and composure in possession, qualities Milan lacked at times against Como. In defence, Strahinja Pavlovic remains a doubt after being withdrawn during that encounter and could miss out due to injury. Santiago Gimenez is also sidelined, limiting options through the centre of attack.
On a more positive note, Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers have all recently returned to fitness and are available for selection. Their reintegration significantly strengthens Milan’s attacking depth. Leao, in particular, has enjoyed this fixture in recent seasons and enters the match in confident form. With both he and Pulisic level among the club’s top scorers, Milan’s creative burden is shared rather than concentrated.
Competition for attacking positions remains intense. Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Fullkrug are pushing for inclusion, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has occasionally been deployed in a more advanced linking role behind a central striker. Milan’s tactical flexibility allows Allegri’s side to adjust between direct vertical transitions and patient positional build-up, depending on the opponent’s shape.
Milan are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 system that provides defensive stability while allowing wing-backs to advance aggressively. In goal, Mike Maignan continues as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, responsible not only for shot-stopping but also initiating build-up from deep with his distribution.
The back three should consist of Fikayo Tomori on the right side of central defence, Matteo Gabbia operating centrally, and Koni De Winter positioned on the left. Tomori offers recovery pace and defensive anticipation, Gabbia anchors the line with positional awareness, and De Winter contributes composure in possession when stepping forward.
On the flanks, Alexis Saelemaekers is expected to operate as the right wing-back, providing width and pressing intensity, while Davide Bartesaghi occupies the left wing-back role with licence to push forward and deliver crosses. Their ability to transition quickly from defence to attack will be crucial against Parma’s compact structure.
In midfield, Ardon Jashari is likely to take on a controlling role, dictating tempo and shielding the defence. Luka Modric brings experience, technical precision and vertical passing, while Adrien Rabiot offers physical presence and box-to-box energy, capable of arriving late into attacking areas.
Up front, Rafael Leao is set to partner Christopher Nkunku. Leao will drift into wider channels to isolate defenders and drive at pace, while Nkunku operates between the lines, linking midfield and attack with intelligent movement and close control.
This structure gives AC Milan numerical superiority in midfield while maintaining two direct goal threats against Parma. With attacking depth available from the bench, the Rossoneri possess multiple ways to alter the rhythm if the contest becomes stretched.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers, Jashari, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Leao, Nkunku
Parma Calcio 1913
Parma arrive at San Siro with measured optimism, but they will need to navigate several absences at both ends of the pitch. The most immediate setback comes in defence, where Alessandro Circati is suspended and unavailable for selection. His absence forces Carlos Cuesta into a reshuffle at the back.
Fortunately for the visitors, Mariano Troilo returns from his own one-match ban and is expected to step straight back into the starting lineup, restoring a degree of stability to the defensive unit. There are also ongoing injury concerns. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki remains sidelined, limiting competition between the posts.
Defender Abdoulaye N’Diaye is unavailable, while Pontus Almqvist continues his recovery and will not feature. Forward Matija Frigan is still out after a lengthy rehabilitation from an ACL injury, though he is edging closer to a long-awaited return. These absences narrow Cuesta’s rotation options, particularly in attacking transitions and squad depth.
In the final third, Parma will once again look to Mateo Pellegrino for attacking inspiration. The Argentine striker has become a decisive figure, particularly in aerial situations. Since the start of last season, no player in Serie A has recorded a higher percentage of goals scored with his head, with six of his ten league strikes coming via that route.
His timing, physical presence and ability to attack crosses make him a focal point against Milan’s three-man defence. Supporting him, Parma will seek to combine disciplined defensive work with opportunistic forward play.
Parma are expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation designed to provide structural compactness while maintaining a dual threat in attack. Edoardo Corvi is set to start in goal, tasked with organising the backline and dealing with sustained spells of Milan possession.
The defensive trio should consist of Enrico Del Prato on the right side of central defence, Mariano Troilo operating centrally, and Lautaro Valenti positioned on the left. Del Prato brings defensive versatility and composure in build-up, Troilo offers aerial strength and central organisation, while Valenti contributes left-sided balance and progressive passing from the back.
In midfield, Sascha Britschgi is expected to operate as the right wing-back, providing width and defensive cover, while Emanuele Valeri occupies the left wing-back role with licence to advance and deliver crosses. The central midfield unit is likely to feature Adrian Bernabe as the primary playmaker, Mandela Keita offering energy and ball-winning presence, and Oliver Sorensen contributing balance and support between defensive and attacking phases.
Up front, Gabriel Strefezza will partner Mateo Pellegrino. Strefezza is likely to drift into pockets of space and carry the ball forward during transitions, while Pellegrino remains the central target, attacking crosses and challenging Milan’s defenders physically.
This structure reflects Cuesta’s tactical identity, compact when defending, aggressive in aerial duels, and opportunistic when space emerges. Against a side chasing the Scudetto, Parma’s discipline and efficiency in both boxes will determine whether they can extend their positive momentum.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Corvi; Del Prato, Troilo, Valenti; Britschgi, Bernabe, Keita, Sorensen, Valeri; Strefezza, Pellegrino
Key Stats
- AC Milan are currently unbeaten in 24 consecutive Serie A matches, their longest streak since the legendary 34-game run during the 1991/92 season. A result here would take them to 25 and place this side in rare historical company.
- AC Milan have won eight of their last 10 home league meetings with Parma at San Siro.
- Parma have conceded in 22 straight Serie A matches against Milan.
- The Gialloblu have suffered just four defeats in 12 away league matches this season.
- Since the start of last season, 60% of Mateo Pellegrino’s Serie A goals (6 of 10) have come via headers, the highest proportion in the league over that period.
Player to Watch
Rafael Leao
Few players in Serie A can shift the rhythm of a game as suddenly as Rafael Leao. When Milan need incision, unpredictability or a moment of individual brilliance, the Portuguese forward is often the outlet.
Operating either as a left-sided forward or in a front two, Leao combines acceleration with close control in a way that unsettles compact defensive blocks. Against a Parma side likely to defend in numbers, his ability to isolate a defender and attack one-on-one situations could prove decisive. Even when space is limited, he has shown an increasing maturity in varying his approach, drifting centrally, linking play, or delivering early crosses rather than relying solely on raw pace.
His record in this fixture adds another layer of intrigue. Leao has been directly involved in multiple goals in recent meetings with Parma, and his confidence tends to grow when facing opposition that struggles to contain wide runners. With Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku drawing attention in central areas, Leao may find himself afforded pockets of space on the flank.
Beyond statistics, it is his influence on Milan’s tempo that makes him pivotal. When he accelerates play, the entire team appears to gain belief. When he is contained, Milan can look predictable. In a match where patience may be required, Leao’s timing, knowing when to burst forward and when to recycle possession, will be critical.
If the Rossoneri are to extend their unbeaten run and keep their Scudetto hopes alive, Rafael Leao is the player most capable of turning control into cutting edge.
Prediction
AC Milan 2–0 Parma Calcio 1913
AC Milan enter this fixture with momentum, history and home advantage firmly on their side. The Rossoneri have turned San Siro into a reliable source of points this season, and their 24-match unbeaten league run reflects both resilience and consistency. With Adrien Rabiot returning to midfield and Rafael Leao in strong form, Milan possess enough creativity and attacking depth to unlock a disciplined Parma defence.
That said, this is unlikely to be a straightforward evening. Parma’s away record suggests they are far from pushovers, and their structured 3-5-2 system can frustrate teams who lack patience. Mateo Pellegrino’s aerial presence also gives them a genuine route to goal, particularly from set pieces, an area where Milan have occasionally shown vulnerability.
Still, over the course of 90 minutes, Milan’s superior quality in wide areas and greater attacking variety should tell. Expect Parma to compete and possibly threaten on the counter, but the hosts have too much at stake to slip up at this stage of the title race.