Parma Defeats AC Milan 2-1: A Remarkable Victory For The Promoted Team

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Parma secured a surprising 2-1 win over AC Milan in Serie A on Saturday. This defeat marked Milan's first loss to Parma in the top-flight since 2014, prolonging Paulo Fonseca's wait for his inaugural victory as the Rossoneri coach. Parma's Dennis Man opened the scoring early, netting with his first touch after just 84 seconds.

Christian Pulisic brought Milan level in the 66th minute. Rafael Leao provided a low pass that allowed the American winger to finish from close range. However, Matteo Cancellieri restored Parma's lead with 13 minutes remaining, assisted by fellow substitute Pontus Almqvist. Parma then held firm to secure a memorable victory.

Milan had previously managed a dramatic 2-2 draw against Torino in their season opener, thanks to two last-minute goals. Despite this, they remain on one point in the standings and face an important match against Lazio next week.

Milan struggled without Alvaro Morata, who was sidelined due to injury. They took 17 shots but only hit the target five times, scoring once from an expected goals (xG) total of 2.01. Leao was particularly wasteful, failing to test the goalkeeper with four attempts.

In contrast, Parma were more efficient with their chances. They matched Milan's five shots on target from just nine total attempts. Cancellieri has earned a reputation as a super sub; five of his six Serie A goals have come as a substitute, with four scored after the 70th minute.

Historical Context and Records

Dennis Man became the first Parma player since Alberto Paloschi in the 2009-10 season to score in both of the first two matchdays of a Serie A campaign. Man also scored on the opening weekend of this season.

"Prior to Dennis #Man, the last #Parma player to score in both of the first two matchdays of a #SerieA season was Alberto Paloschi in 2009-10, against Udinese and Catania," noted OptaPaolo on August 24, 2024.

This victory is significant for Parma as it highlights their potential to challenge stronger teams in Serie A. For Milan, it underscores areas needing improvement ahead of their upcoming fixtures.