Milan's Nightmare at the San Siro: Loftus-Cheek Stretchered Off in Dramatic Parma Upset
AC Milan fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat against Parma, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek stretchered off after a nasty head collision early on. Mariano Troilo's late VAR-awarded header sealed the win for the visitors, widening Inter Milan's lead at the top to 10 points. Christian Pulisic started but couldn't spark a comeback in a frustrating outing for the hosts.
Milan's Day Turns Sour Early
Picture this: a sunny afternoon at the San Siro, AC Milan desperate to claw back ground on their city rivals Inter. Instead, it turns into a horror show faster than you can say 'VAR controversy'. Just 10 minutes in, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek clashes heads with Parma keeper Edoardo Corvi while chasing a cross. Blood everywhere, neck brace on, and off he goes on a stretcher. Proper nasty, that one.
The 30-year-old Englishman, ex-Chelsea man, was left with a bloodied mush and reports filtering out of broken teeth and checks for head knocks. Italian rags are all over it, and even Parma boss Carlos Cuesta piped up post-match: "Our thoughts are with him." Fair play to the opposition for that touch of class amid the chaos.
Pulisic Back, But Parma Party Poopers
Christian Pulisic, the USMNT star, made a welcome return to the Milan starting XI after a bit of bench time. You could've hoped for some magic from the lad, but nah. Milan huffed and puffed, dominating possession like they owned the place, yet couldn't find the net.
Enter Mariano Troilo. With 80 minutes on the clock, the Parma defender rises highest from a corner, nods it home. Ref initially chalks it off for a foul – cue groans from the away end – but VAR has a butcher's and flips the call. 1-0 Parma, and the San Siro falls silent. That's three on the bounce for the Ducati boys, now comfy in 12th.
Milan? They'd just scraped a 1-1 draw at home to Como midweek. Talk about momentum swinging the wrong way.
Inter Pull Further Ahead – Title Race Reality Check
This loss piles the agony on for the Rossoneri. They went into the game eyeing a cut in the gap to Inter down to seven points. Fat chance. Inter had already stuffed Lecce 2-0 the day before, their seventh straight Serie A win, stretching that lead to a whopping 10 points.
Stefano Pioli's lot look leggy, disjointed – like they've had one pint too many. Loftus-Cheek's absence is a hammer blow; the big man's been a rock in midfield. Without him, they lacked that physical edge, and Parma – no mugs themselves under Cuesta – exploited it ruthlessly.
As reported by ESPN News Services back on 22 February 2026, this one's got tongues wagging. Is Milan's title challenge on life support? Inter are purring, unbeaten in donkey's years, while the Nerazzurri faithful are already dreaming of another Scudetto. For Milan fans nursing their sorrows, it's back to the drawing board – and pronto.
Humour in the pain? Loftus-Cheek's collision was like a WWE dive gone wrong, and that VAR goal had Rossoneri supporters throwing their scarves in despair. But footy's a cruel mistress, innit? Parma grab the spoils, Milan lick wounds, and the Serie A soap opera rolls on. What's next – a derby meltdown?
Milan need to regroup sharpish. With Inter rampant, every point dropped feels like a season-ender. Fingers crossed Lofty bounces back quick; they'll need his noggin in the coming scraps.