PARMA v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

1232 days on, Parma v AC Milan is back. Our first away day of the campaign is a fixture that will take place for the first time in over three and a half years and a game that is linked to many memories from the 1990s and 2000s. Fast-forward to the present day, here is our Match Preview ahead of this evening’s 18:30 CEST kick-off.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
The game at the Tardini will be a clash of debuts. Making its first appearance will be our Third Kit, a shirt in which we immediately want to make positive memories and emerge victorious after the draw against Torino. The three new faces in the Rossoneri squad could also all make their debuts. Pavlović is competing with Thiaw for a place in the starting eleven, while Emerson Royal and Fofana will be part of the matchday squad. All three, then, could take to the pitch for the first time in our colours in a competitive fixture. The attacking trio of Chukwueze, Pulisic and Leão could all retain their places in the line-up behind Okafor. Hernández and Reijnders should feature from the get-go.

"The lads have trained really well, but not everyone is at the same level in terms of fitness and physical condition," said the Coach during his pre-match press conference."Noah will start tomorrow; he's responded excellently during the week. Given his characteristics, it could be the game for him. Parma have a strong identity that they've built over time. They're a very aggressive side in defence and able to counter well. It's a match where we'll need to be more aggressive in defence, which is something we've worked on during the week."

LATEST FROM PARMA
Fabio Pecchia's Parma also picked up a point on the opening matchday: they drew 1-1 with Fiorentina at the Tardini, where they'd previously been knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Palermo. It was a positive opening league fixture for a team that are back in the Italian top flight after winning Serie B in 2023/24. The Ducali's main aim is to stay in the division, but they undoubtedly have a squad full of talented players, starting with the Spaniard Bernabè and Dennis Man. The latter found the net against the Viola and is ready to lead the trio of attacking players in support of the only striker, which will be Bonny, in Parma’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Delprato is set to return in defence, and where he's selected to play - either at right-back or centre-back - will also influence Pecchia's choices relating to Coulibaly and Valeri. There are doubts regarding the availability of Venezuelan international Osorio.

"We've put in the hard work in the past two years to be involved in these kinds of games, and we want to play with joy," said Pecchia on the eve of the game. "AC Milan remain a prestigious and high-quality side. I'll ask my lads to continue to play with a free spirit and to show the desire to compete. Hernández and Leão are one of the strongest pairings in Serie A in terms of quality, physicality and talent. Courage will make the difference."

PRE-MATCH STATS

• Parma and AC Milan are set to meet for the 45th time in Serie A: so far, the Rossoneri have recorded 29 wins compared to the Ducali's eleven, with 14 draws completing the picture. The Diavolo have won their last two matches at the Tardini. The teams have previously met twice on matchday two, with AC Milan winning on both occasions: 2-0 in 2006 and 5-4 in 2014.
• On the opening matchday of the 2024/25 Serie A campaign, AC Milan were the team that attempted the most shots (26) and had the most touches in the opposition box (41). Following Morata and Okafor's goals against Torino, the Rossoneri consolidated their position as the team from the top five European leagues that have scored the most goals (18) through substitutes since 2023/24.
• Theo Hernández has enjoyed success against Parma in the past: the Frenchman bagged his first Serie A brace when AC Milan faced the Ducali on 13 December 2020. Rafael Leão, who was the player who had the most efforts at goal during the opening matchday (seven, two of which were on target), got on the scoresheet when the sides last met in 2021.

WHERE TO WATCH PARMA v AC MILAN
In Italy, the game will be live on DAZN. To watch Parma v AC Milan from a different country, please consult the 'AC Milan on TV' page. Follow Matchday on Milan TV: the live will begin at 17:45 CEST until kick-off, with the game being followed by the interviews and Coach Fonseca's press conference. Don't miss out on our coverage via acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App, our official social media channels and WhatsApp.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
Juan-Luca Sacchi will be the man in the middle for the match at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, where he'll take charge of his 56th Serie A fixture. He's previously refereed both teams four times. He last took charge of an AC Milan game when the Rossoneri beat Empoli 1-0 last season. Cecconi and Fontemurato will be the linesmen, Piccinini will perform the role of fourth official, and Marini (assisted by Fabbri) will oversee VAR.

Together with Udinese v Lazio, Parma v AC Milan will get matchday 2 in Serie A underway at 18:30 CEST on Saturday 24 August. Inter v Lecce and Monza v Genoa will then take place at 20:45 CEST. Four fixtures are scheduled for Sunday 25 August: Fiorentina v Venezia and Torino v Atalanta at 18:30 CEST, followed by Napoli v Bologna and Roma v Empoli at 20:45 CEST. Two games will be played on Monday: Cagliari v Como (18:30 CEST) and Hellas Verona v Juventus (20:45 CEST).

This is the league table after the opening matchday: Atalanta, Hellas Verona, Juventus and Lazio 3; Genoa, Inter, AC Milan, Torino, Bologna, Fiorentina, Parma, Udinese, Cagliari, Empoli, Monza and Roma 1; Venezia, Como, Napoli and Lecce 0.

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