Parma vs AC Milan

Last season’s Serie A runners-up AC Milan head to Stadio Ennio Tardini to encounter newly-promoted Parma.

A top-table Serie B finish in 2023/24 ended Parma’s three-year stint in the second tier, but the new season didn’t start well for the Crusaders. A 1-0 Coppa Italia loss to Palermo was a bitter pill to swallow, but Fabio Pecchia’s side made amends with a 1-1 home draw against Fiorentina on the opening Serie A weekend. Avoiding a swift relegation remains the club’s priority in 2024/25, even though they’ve failed to back their manager with proper signings in the transfer window. Pecchia would probably sign up for another share of the points before the kick-off, with Parma bidding to end Milan’s run of three wins from their last four league visits to the Tardini Stadium (D1). Scoring shouldn’t be a problem for the home team, considering eight of Parma’s nine previous home games in Serie A have seen both teams on the scoresheet.

On the other hand, Milan had to haul back a two-goal deficit to claim a point against Torino last weekend. Alvaro Morata and Noah Okafor netted beyond the 88th minute to salvage a point on Paulo Fonseca’s touchline debut. It wasn’t a dream start for the Portuguese manager following an outstanding pre-season run, but it still strengthened Milan’s formidable league form in August (W9, D3). Indeed, ‘I Rossoneri’ haven’t lost a Serie A match in the eighth month since 2019, yet their away form at the tail-end of last season puts that streak in jeopardy. Milan failed to win four consecutive away games in all competitions toward the end of 2023/24 (D2, L2), conceding at least two goals on three occasions.