Milan come into this game having just secured a big 1-0 victory over Girona midweek in Champions League. The win, the 5th in a row in Champions League, see Milan 6th in the table and in the driver’s seat for earning a bye in the first round of the knockouts. With that big win behind them, does that mean we’re in for a letdown today? Maybe. But hopefully Conceição can pull the right strings, get all 3 points, and have them ready for big final Champions League matchday this Wednesday.
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
MILAN: WLWDW
PARMA: DLDWL
FORMATIONS
MILAN (4-2-3-1) *Predicted*: Maignan (C); Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leão; Morata
PARMA (4-2-3-1) *Predicted*: Suzuki; Del Prato, Vogliacco, Valenti, Valeri; Keita, Sohm; Man, Hernani, Mihaila; Bonny
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 6:30am EST/11:30am GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milano
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye (Spanish broadcast on Fox Deportes in the US); FuboTV and TLN for Canada; TNT in the UK (maybe?); ESPN for Mexico; DAZN for Germany, Austria, Switzerland; a website called GXR for our friends in India; and illegal streams that support dictators and oligarchs everywhere.
*Let us know if this needs updating or if you have additional broadcasters to add*
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Since I’m writing this before the lineups post, there will be some hedging going on but ultimately I want to see Conceição start the starters and then start subbing by the 60th minute. Hopefully Milan will have a goal or two lead and holding onto it will be the main goal by the time those subs start coming on. Milan gets some guys back, including Pulisic (who we saw mid week) as well as Okafor. Kyle Walker signed and trained but we’ll see if he makes the squad and then if he plays.
As for how the game looks, more of the same from Conceição as last game, namely a high press and offensively going through Leão if he’s starting. If Parma play open like they normally do then I expect a tempo similar to the midweek game vs Girona. In the unlikely event Parma play it safely, then I want consistent runs through the box, particularly by Reijnders, and a steady dose of crosses.
It was the first meeting between these two that issues really began to show themselves this season with Fonseca. The team came out flat, Parma got a goal in the 2nd minute and while Pulisic tied it in the 66th minute, Cancellieri got the winner in the 77th and Milan had 1 point after the first two rounds. How badly would you love to have all 6 of these points right now?…
With a big midweek game on Wednesday and the Derby della Madonnina next weekend, this isn’t exactly a MUST win but a win would be crucial in trying to catch the top 4. With Juventus and Bologna dropping points already this weekend, and Lazio and Fiorentina facing off later today, could be a great opportunity to make up ground if Milan can get the job done. Ideally Milan score early and get to defend the lead rather than chasing the game and expending more energy than necessary. I’m hopeful so I’ll go with a 2-1 Milan win…but I’m nervous.
Michael Lisi says: *coming soon!*…
**update: not coming soon, LOL**
Let’s do it.
Forza Milan
gillis
**Don’t forget to check out Lisi’s Weekend Whip Around: Round 22!