AC Milan suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of the Scudetto, enduring a frustrating 2-2 draw against a determined Parma side in Round 11 of the Serie A season. Despite showcasing an impressive early attacking blitz to establish a comfortable two-goal advantage, coach Max Allegri's team could not withstand the home side's resilience, ultimately sharing the points and putting their top-of-the-table position at risk.
Rossoneri Blitz and Early Rewards
The Rossoneri entered the match with clear intent, immediately adopting a high-pressing, attacking style that quickly overwhelmed their opponents and controlled the tempo of the game. This enthusiastic start was soon rewarded. In the 12th minute, a beautiful piece of smooth offensive coordination saw Christopher Nkunku deliver a delicate assist, allowing Alexis Saelemaekers to finish accurately and open the scoring for the visitors. The goal was confirmed by VAR, injecting a surge of confidence into the Milan squad.
The advantage was doubled just ten minutes later. A foul by Abdoulaye Ndiaye in the penalty area left referee Marco Di Bello with no choice but to point to the spot. Star winger Rafael Leao stepped up, easily beating goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to make the score 2-0. At this point, everything appeared to be firmly under Milan's control, suggesting a comfortable path to victory.
Parma's Resilience and Milan's Loss of Focus
However, the seemingly assured lead began to unravel in stoppage time of the first half. In the 45+1 minute, Parma found a crucial lifeline. Adrian Bernabe Garcia connected with a beautiful shot that flew past the Milan defense, halving the deficit just before the break. This goal was a huge psychological boost for the home team, transforming the atmosphere and setting the stage for an unpredictable second half.
As the second half commenced, Parma played with renewed confidence and aggression, raising their formation to apply sustained pressure on the Milan defense. This strategy paid off handsomely in the 62nd minute. Taking advantage of lax marking inside the box, Enrico Del Prato rose to powerfully head the ball into the net, sparking huge excitement inside the Ennio Tardini stadium as the score was sensationally leveled at 2-2.
Suzuki’s Heroics Deny Decisive Blow
The remaining minutes of the match witnessed AC Milan’s relentless attacking efforts as they desperately sought to restore their advantage. Allegri's men threw everything forward, creating a series of chances that should have settled the outcome. Christian Pulisic, Saelemaekers, and Luka Modric all found themselves in positions to decide the match, but they were repeatedly thwarted by the brilliant goalkeeping of Zion Suzuki.
The Japanese goalkeeper's performance was nothing short of heroic. In particular, deep into added time, Modric unleashed a dangerous long-range shot that seemed destined for the back of the net, only for Suzuki to produce a spectacular block to keep the ball out and secure the draw for Parma.
The final 2-2 result grants AC Milan only one point, leaving them exposed to the risk of losing their top spot in the Serie A table should rivals like Inter Milan or AS Roma win their subsequent matches. More than just a dropped two points, this draw serves as a stark warning for Allegri's squad regarding their lack of stability and their inability to decisively control a game, even with a commanding lead. In a season where every mistake is costly, Milan must quickly tighten their defense and regain their focus to ensure they do not surrender their advantage in the gripping race for the Serie A throne.