Parma, 8 April 2021 – On Sunday 18 January 1998, Parma’s aim was to bounce back. Indeed, the previous week had seen them concede five in a heavy defeat to Sampdoria in Genoa.
Fabio Capello’s AC Milan were the team the Crociati were looking to immediately redeem themselves against, with the Rossoneri arriving at the Stadio Ennio Tardini on matchday 16 in Serie A.
The Curva Nord banner that greeted the players as they entered the pitch was straight to the point. “Parma, rialzati e combatti !!!” (“Parma, get back up and fight!!!”) it read.
And that is exactly what Parma did, with the spectators witnessing some spectacular goals.
That day, Enrico Chiesa and Dino Baggio inspired the Crociati.
The striker gave us the lead in the 33rd minute, a lovely finish following an excellent team move.
Chiesa slid in to fire home Zé Maria’s cross on the volley, with the latter having played a brilliant one-two with Stefano Fiore prior to this. Facing the Curva Nord, the goalscorer picked up the ball and kissed it to celebrate (1-0).
Then, eleven minutes later, his teammate with the number 8 on his back outdid him. Indeed, Baggio produced a moment of technical brilliance that remains etched in our hearts and memories to this day.
In the 44th minute, Chiesa played in a corner that wasn’t fully cleared by the Rossoneri defence. The ball eventually dropped towards Baggio, who conjured up a magnificent overhead kick that flew into the net. The power and precision of the acrobatic effort meant that Massimo Taibi had no chance between the sticks (2-0).
The visitors pushed forward after the break and pulled one back after 70 minutes, when they scored an impressive bicycle kick themselves. Former Parma man Maurizio Ganz was the man to get it (2-1).
However, the Rossoneri’s hopes of a comeback were shattered immediately. Indeed, with 75 minutes on the clock, Chiesa found the net once again. And it was another gem.
The Italian let fly with his left foot from outside the box and watched as the ball sailed into the top corner to the left of Taibi (3-1).
Carlo Ancelotti’s team thus responded in the best possible fashion to the big setback they’d suffered seven days before.
Now, a new Parma vs. AC Milan chapter awaits: at 18:00 CEST on Saturday 10 April, the two teams will meet at the Tardini on matchday 30 of the 2020/21 Serie A season.
Header: Crociati fans in the Curva Nord holding up their scarves. Photos: the Curva Nord and their banner; Baggio and Chiesa in action. Below: the crowd creating a fiery atmosphere.
