AC Milan's Serie A title ambitions suffered a significant blow as they lost 2-1 at home to Parma, leaving them 10 points behind leaders Inter. The defeat was compounded by a serious injury to midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who sustained a fractured jaw and upper teeth after a collision with Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi in the seventh minute. The England international was stretchered off with his head in a brace and is expected to undergo surgery, ruling him out for several months and likely ending his hopes of featuring in the World Cup.
Milan had been expected to capitalise on a favourable schedule, with extra preparation time compared to rivals who were fatigued from European fixtures. However, they once again dropped points against a bottom-half side, a recurring issue this season. Despite strong performances against top teams like Inter, Napoli, and Roma, Milan have struggled against lesser opposition, having previously lost or drawn with Cremonese, Pisa, Genoa, Fiorentina, and now Parma.
Parma, managed by 29-year-old Carlos Cuesta in his first senior head coach role, took full advantage. Cuesta, who previously worked as an assistant at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, has impressed since his appointment. The visitors created the best early chance through Mateo Pellegrino before Milan's injury disrupted their rhythm. Parma's victory was built on defensive resilience and clinical finishing, exposing Milan's inconsistency.
Milan's defeat leaves them trailing Inter, who maintained their lead with a 2-0 win over Lecce. While Inter have been ruthless against weaker teams, Milan's inability to match that consistency has cost them dearly. With Loftus-Cheek sidelined and the gap widening, Milan face an uphill battle to revive their title challenge.
