STADIO ENNIO TARDINI (PARMA) – Serie A’s Champions League race took yet another turn on Saturday as Parma frustrated AC Milan at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, holding Gennaro Gattuso’s side to a 1-1 draw.
Milan are now without a win in their last three games away from the home comforts of the Stadio San Siro and despite undoubtedly dominating possession, the Crociati were deserving of their point.
Samu Castillejo’s opener looked as though it was going to be enough for the Rossoneri to leave with a win, but a thumping Bruno Alves freekick late on rescued a point for Parma.
Gervinho had looked to use his pace to cause Milan problems a couple of times early on, but it was only after 12 minutes that it gave the Rossoneri any real trouble. The Ivorian drove forward and slipped an excellent, if not slightly heavy, ball to Ceravolo. With Gianluigi Donnarumma coming out, the goalkeeper went to ground and took down the Parma forward, but Paolo Valeri waved away appeals for a penalty, insisting the ball had been played first, which VAR silently confirmed.
Juraj Kucka then took his turn to give Gennaro Gattuso a scare. The former Milan midfielder came close with a stunning bicycle kick that just grazed the post and narrowly evaded the top corner.
The first time Suso found space he executed his trademark move of cutting in onto his left foot. The Spaniard then picked out Fabio Borini at the back post but the Italian never got over or behind the ball and his headed effort didn’t trouble Luigi Sepe.
Gervinho probably should have given the Crociati a lead before the break. A fizzing corner was met at the near post by Ceravolo and his glancing header was tipped across goal by Donnarumma. Falling slightly behind the No.27, he attempted an overhead kick of his own but his effort went way off target and into the mocking Milan support behind the goal.
The Rossoneri continued to struggle to put their own stamp on the game despite dominating possession, and the hosts made better use of their time on the ball but without really giving Donnarumma too much to do.
A corner on the hour mark picked out Alessio Romagnoli at the near post and he helped the ball along its way into the crowded area but it dropped harmlessly out of play.
Suso was central to Milan eventually getting into the hosts’ area taking the lead and oddly it was due to the work of his right foot. Taking the ball on the right wing, he drove a cross into the area where the recently-arrived Samu Castillejo was on hand to dispatch an excellent header beyond Sepe.
Patrick Cutrone briefly thought he had made it two moments later. Krzysztof Piatek was some way offside as he was put through before squaring to the Italian who tapped into an open goal and the effort was correctly chalked off.
Luca Siligardi almost levelled shortly after his own introduction. Beating Donnarumma to a bouncing ball he nodded it around the ‘keeper and shot off the post from a tight angle. Cristian Zapata’s heart was momentarily in his mouth as the ball quickly bounced off the upright and off his foot, only for it to go behind for a corner.
Parma did get their reward late on and it came from their captain Bruno Alves. Not for the first time this season, the Portuguese dispatched an excellent freekick in front of the Curva Nord to send the Tardini into delirium.
Milan left wanting
Suso had a hand in the opening goal, but the Spaniard still didn’t do enough for his team as they had the lion’s share of possession.
Fifty-nine percent of the ball, but Milan managed just three shots on target and Parma were deserving of their point.
Piatek barely saw the ball and even with Cutrone joining him up top in the second half, the pair were largely left to feed on scraps, if that.
Suso and Hakan Calhanoglu haven’t done enough for Milan this season and if they are to return to the Champions League, it will be despite their efforts rather than because of them.
Bruno Alves is Parma
Forget Gervinho… Where would the Crociati be if it weren’t for their captain?
So often this season, he has kept things locked down at the back, often being a one-man defensive unit, and he has contributed at the other end as well.
The Portuguese netted his second freekick of the season at the Tardini, after his spectacular strike against Chievo in December, and it was his third goal of the campaign from just 14 shots.
Parma aren’t all that far clear of relegation and without Alves at the back, they would surely be scrapping for their lives.
