AC Milan’s Serie A title chase suffered a heavy blow on February 22, 2026, as the Rossoneri were stunned 1-0 at home by Parma in a dramatic night at San Siro. The match, which many expected to be a routine affair for the second-placed giants, instead unraveled into a tale of missed chances, untimely injuries, and a late VAR drama that left fans and players alike reeling.
The evening began with an unexpected setback for Milan even before a ball was kicked. Defender Matteo Gabbia, initially named in the starting lineup, was forced to withdraw during the warm-up due to muscular problems. Koni De Winter stepped in to fill the void, but the disruption to the backline was only the first of several blows to come.
As the match got underway, Milan’s woes deepened. Just 11 minutes in, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the England international midfielder who has been a steady presence in the Rossoneri’s engine room, collided heavily with Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi. The incident occurred as both players scrambled to reach an inventive rabona cross from Alexis Saelemaekers. Loftus-Cheek came off significantly worse, bleeding from the face and requiring a stretcher to leave the pitch. He never lost consciousness but was immediately transported to a local hospital for tests amid concerns of a fractured cheekbone and significant dental damage. Reports from DAZN Italia later indicated that the most severe injuries were to his teeth, although head trauma could not be ruled out. Ardon Jashari replaced Loftus-Cheek, forcing Milan into another early tactical adjustment.
Despite the early disruptions, Milan dominated possession and pressed forward with intent. They carved out numerous chances, particularly through Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leão, Adrien Rabiot, and substitute Jashari, each of whom would end the night with four shots apiece. The Rossoneri racked up a remarkable 25 attempts on goal, accumulating a combined expected goals (xG) of 1.33, but clinical finishing eluded them at every turn.
The first half saw Milan go close on several occasions. Within two minutes, Valeri’s cross found Pellegrino, whose first-time effort flashed wide. Pulisic was in the thick of the action, firing straight at Corvi before seeing another attempt from a tight angle saved. As the tempo grew, Leão tested Corvi with a header from a Luka Modrić free-kick, and Saelemaekers teed up Pulisic for another shot that was denied by the Parma keeper. The Rossoneri’s best chance before the break came when Rabiot knocked down a ball for Pulisic, whose effort brushed the outside of the post.
After halftime, Milan’s pressure intensified. Rabiot dragged a left-footed shot wide, and moments later, Leão was narrowly beaten to a cross by Corvi. Pulisic saw a low drive cleared off the line by Troilo, while Leão’s volley from a Rabiot cross rattled the inside of the post and spun agonizingly wide. The home crowd could hardly believe their luck as chance after chance went begging.
Parma, meanwhile, were content to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, registering just nine shots worth 0.46 xG over the course of the match. The visitors’ resilience and organization paid off in dramatic fashion in the closing stages. In the 84th minute (some reports list the 80th), Mariano Troilo rose above the Milan defense to head home Emanuele Valeri’s corner. The goal was initially ruled out for a foul on Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with Lautaro Valenti suspected of impeding the keeper. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the referee overturned his decision, awarding Parma the goal and sending their bench into wild celebration.
"We are not happy, obviously," said Milan assistant coach Marco Landucci, who stood in for the suspended Massimiliano Allegri. Speaking to Sky Sport, Landucci added, "Parma played very well and the ball just didn't want to go in for us tonight. We wanted the three points, so of course we feel let down, but we go again." The defeat marked Milan’s first loss since the opening weekend of the season and snapped a 24-game unbeaten run in Serie A. It was a bitter pill to swallow for a team that had hoped to keep pressure on league leaders Inter Milan.
The loss leaves Milan stuck on 54 points after 26 matchdays, a full 10 points adrift of Inter, who had earlier extended their lead with a 2-0 win over Lecce. While the Rossoneri remain second in the standings and four points clear of Napoli (with Roma still to play), their hopes of a dramatic late-season title charge now hang by a thread. The defeat also capped a difficult week, following a draw with Como and a mounting injury list that threatens to derail Milan’s campaign further.
Injuries have become a mounting concern for Milan. The absence of Santiago Gimenez and the limited fitness of Strahinja Pavlovic, who was only fit enough for the bench, forced the coaching staff to improvise. Young wing-back Davide Bartesaghi was deployed as part of a back three in an unusual role, and the disruption to the squad’s rhythm was evident. The loss of both Gabbia and Loftus-Cheek on the same night only compounds Milan’s personnel crisis heading into a crucial stretch of the season.
For Parma, the win represents a massive boost and a testament to their defensive discipline and opportunism. Troilo’s decisive header—his last shot of the game—will be remembered as one of the defining moments of their season. Parma coach Cuesta praised his side’s resilience, while Milan were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal.
Looking ahead, Milan will need to regroup quickly. Their next challenge comes on Sunday, March 1, when they travel to face Cremonese at 12:30 CET. With the race for UEFA Champions League qualification still alive, the Rossoneri must bounce back and address both their injury concerns and their lack of cutting edge in attack.
As the dust settles on a night that will be remembered for its drama and disappointment, Milan’s players and fans are left to wonder how a match so full of promise slipped away. The title race may not be mathematically over, but the margin for error has vanished. It’s now or never for the Rossoneri if they hope to keep their dreams alive.