There are moments in a season when points are worth more. This Milan-Parma is one of those, at least according to Massimiliano Allegri. “It's the hub of the championship, it's more important than Barça – explained the Rossoneri coach. – I ask the boys for maximum concentration, without forgetting that we could hook Lazio while waiting for Petkovic's team to take the field. We shouldn't miss the performance and be in a hurry to finish the match."
The diktat is clear: it is forbidden to think about Barcelona. However, there is a risk of getting distracted and it could prove fatal, because Parma are an excellent team and have already stopped Milan in the first leg. At the time, however, there was no Balotelli, who tonight instead, thanks to the unavailability of El Shaarawy, will have to take the team on his shoulders. “Right now he has a leading role – Allegri's analysis. – He Can become a world-class player as it is in his technical and physical qualities of him. I gave him some advice, he needs to get smarter. Returning to Milan, he understood that he must manage private life better, even at the media level ”. While waiting for the desired improvements to arrive, the technician enjoys the performance on the pitch. Super Mario has already scored three goals in two games and tonight he will try to further increase his tally. Instead there will be Stephan El Shaarawy, struggling with inflammation of the kneecap tendon. “He's been out for three days – explained Allegri. – We have to get him back quickly, for the first time he will rest to get him back in time on Wednesday against Barcelona. On the other hand, always playing is understandable. I would also add that there are no problems in attack. El Shaarawy and Balotelli don't step on each other's feet, tactically they are different, they can coexist without problems”. The trident will thus see Super Mario together with Niang and Bojan, also because Robinho is unavailable and Pazzini will be spared in view of the Champions League. A commitment, that of next Wednesday, which attracts the attention of the press and fans (San Siro is already sold out), but not of Allegri, or at least that's what he says: “Woe to think about Barcelona: it makes no sense to talk about it now. Surely they are the strongest in the world and I want to see how our team will face them. It's important, I know, but winning tomorrow against Parma at this moment is even more important”. It's hard to blame him, because if the Champions League is a bit like a gala dinner, Parma is the daily meal, and bread, as we know, comes before caviar. The fight for third place passes from here, and Milan only needs victory. Otherwise next year goodbye to the big European nights.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
AC Milan (4-3-3): Have you; Abate, Zaccardo, Zapata, Constant; Flamini, Montolivo, Muntari; Niang, Balotelli, Bojan.
On the bench: Gabriel, Petkovic, De Sciglio, Yepes, Mexes, Traoré, Nocerino, Boateng, Pazzini.
Trainer: Massimiliano Allegri.
Unavailable: Bonera, Antonini, De Jong, Salamon, Robinho, El Shaarawy.
Disqualified: Ambrosini (1).
Parma (4-3-3): Pavarini; Rosi, Paletta, Lucarelli, Gobbi; Marchionni, Valdes, Parolo; Biabiany, Belfodil, Samson.
On the bench: Bajza, Benalouane, Coda, Mesbah, Ampuero, Maceachen, Strasser, Morrone, Ninis, Palladino, Amauri, Boniperti
Trainer: Roberto Donadoni.
Unavailable: Mariga, Santacroce, Galoppa, Mirante.
Disqualified: nobody.
Referee: David Massa (Imperia).
Line Assistants: Giachero – Petrella.
Port Assistants: DeMarco-DiBello.
Fourth official: Whites.
