AC Milan vs. Parma: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Serie A Game
After a successful week in the January transfer window in which Milan signed striker Mattia Destro and defender Salvatore Bocchetti, a very tricky match against Parma looms on the horizon.
Parma might just be the trickiest team for Milan to face at the moment. It's an organization in dire straights. Italy international Antonio Cassano just rescinded his contract after not getting paid, per ESPN FC, giving up around €4 million to save his pride.
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Many of the other players for Parma are in a similar situation, and a mysterious change in ownership hasn't helped stability. Midfielder Daniele Galloppa issued an ultimatum to the club, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia) that the players want "facts" and must be paid before February 16.
In Parma's recent loss in the Coppa Italia against Juventus, they put up a great display, mostly playing for pride. Aside from Cassano's loss, they reinforced in January by adding midfielder Antonio Nocerino, Atletico Madrid winger Cristian Cebolla Rodriguez and Portugal international attacker Silvestre Varela.
This is a hungry team that sits at the bottom of the Serie A table all alone after losing their last match against Cesena.
The Rossoneri haven't won any of their last five domestic matches. After a great run in which they beat Napoli, drew with Roma and defeated Real Madrid in a friendly, they've stagnated under Filippo Inzaghi.
The biggest issue this season has been their struggles against provincial sides. Inzaghi's men have a very hard time breaking down smaller sides that close themselves down and don't give much room for the likes of Jeremy Menez to take off in open space.
According to the latest reports from La Gazzetta, Keisuke Honda, Giampaolo Pazzini and Menez will start as the attacking trident. Inzaghi's main issue with the attack is deciding whether or not to start Mattia Destro right away after the striker joined from Roma on Thursday.
Keisuke Honda's return from the Asian Cup means that Alessio Cerci will have a hard time finding a spot in the starting XI unless Inzaghi switches to a more offensive 4-2-3-1, which would allow either Destro or Pazzini to lead the line and have support from three attacking midfielders.
Interestingly enough, Milan's most entertaining match this season was probably their 5-4 win against Parma, when Jeremy Menez broke the internet with an incredibly unique goal.
Menez is the only certainty up front at the moment for Inzaghi, and he has rewarded the faith of the coach with 10 goals this season, a career high for the Frenchman.
The last big issue will be whether or not Nigel de Jong is fit enough to play.
The latest indications see him as doubtful to start from the opening minute, which would mean that Riccardo Montolivo would be partnered with Sulley Muntari and Andrea Poli.
The midfield has been one of Milan's biggest issues this season. They haven't been able to string together more than a few successful passes, and they rarely play the right ball to find the run of one of the strikers trying to get in behind the defensive line.
Even though Parma's place in the standings would suggest that they're a doormat, it would be foolish for the Rossoneri to not take the side seriously considering their alarming problems against smaller Italian teams.
Now that Parma have added quality for Roberto Donadoni, a climb up the table and out of the relegation zone could be in order.
In the end, Inzaghi's side must find their identity and play a particular style of football that is cohesive and effective. Too many times they've looked out of sorts trying to build their attack, showing no discernible chemistry and making elementary errors on the defensive end.
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