The San Siro plays venue for the meeting of Serie A’s two crisis clubs as AC Milan host bottom of the table Parma on Sunday night.
Rossoneri coach Filippo Inzaghi and counterpart Roberto Donadoni saw their sides crash out of the Coppa Italia in mid-week, as both clubs continue to struggle on and off the pitch.
The last meeting between the pair produced nine goals and two red cards and a Jeremy Menez stunner.
Milan suffered back to back defeats in the league and cup at the hands of Lazio. The 1-0 loss in the Coppa Italia quarter-final was particularly galling as Lazio played the entire second with 10 men after Lorik Cana was sent off.
Inzaghi’s squad now return to the reality of a league campaign which has only produced six wins at the halfway stage. They are currently on a winless run of five, to leave them 11th place in the Serie A table on 26 points, a whopping 23 points from leaders Juventus.
Inzaghi appears to maintain the confidence of the Milan hierarchy who have tried to boost the team in the shape of Roma striker Mattia Destro. The 23-year-old, who struggled for game time in the capital, has agreed a loan move to the San Siro with the option of making it permanent in the summer.
Parma are focused on trying to keep the ones they have after Antonio Cassano cancelled his contract with the club after going seven months unpaid.
Midfielder Daniele Galloppa told Gazzetta dello Sport that the rest of the squad want facts and not mere words with the players, setting a deadline of February 16 for payment of salaries or the 29-year-old said the players will ‘look after themselves.’
The players are remaining professional and Donadoni will have been buoyed by his side’s battling performance in the Coppa Italia defeat to Juventus. However, with his side ten points from safety in the league, it is looking a forlorn bid for survival already.
Victory in Parma’s first match of 2015 against Fiorentina turned out to be a false dawn. Last week’s home defeat to fellow strugglers Cesena was their eighth defeat in their past ten Serie A fixtures.
Antonio Nocerino, who joined Parma this month, will face his parent club at the San Siro for his fourth appearance for the Gialloblu alongside Jose Mauri and Francesco Lodi. Gabriel Paletta will start at the back in what could be his final appearance if the transfer rumours of a move away from the Tardini are to believed.
Destro could be pushing for a place in Milan’s match day squad but it is unknown if the new signing will make his Rossoneri debut. In his absence, Inzaghi looks to continue without a recognised striker in his front three, highlighting the need for the Italian international. Although the former Milan hitman can look to Jeremy Menez, the Frenchman with two goals in their last three in the league.
Form Guide: Milan (W-D-L-D-L-L) Parma (D-L-W-L-L-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Milan: Lopez; Albertazzi, Alex, Rami, Abate; Muntari, Montolivo, Poli; Honda, Menez, Cerci.
Parma: Mirante; Varela, Cassani, Paletta, Lucarelli, Gobbi; Muari, Lodi, Nocerino; Palladino, Rodriguez.
