Inter Milan headed into their Serie A game against Parma away from home on Monday looking to close the gap on leaders Juventus to just one point.
However, Nicola Sansone's goal in the 75th minute saw the Nerazzurri suffer a 1-0 defeat at Stadio Ennio Tardini to remain four points off the pace.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live minute-by-minute text commentary of the Serie A clash between Parma and Inter Milan. This promises to be a very exciting match, and you can follow all the action live here on this page.
Heading into tonight’s match at Stadio Ennio Tardini, Inter find themselves third in the league table with 28 points from 13 matches, just four points behind leaders Juventus, who lost 1-0 to AC Milan at San Siro last night.
Parma too have been impressive so far this season, and are currently 10th in the league standings with 17 points.
Team news coming up now...
Parma Starting Lineup: Mirante; Rosi, Zaccardo, Paletta, Gobbi; Acquah, Valdes, Marchionni; Biabiany, Amauri, Sansone
Inter Milan Starting Lineup: Handanovic; Ranocchia, Samuel, Juan Jesus; Zanetti, Guarin, Cambiasso, Nagatomo; Alvarez; Palacio, Milito
The big team news for Inter is that Ricardo Alvarez starts for them tonight in a 3-4-1-2 formation and will support Diego Milito and Rodrigo Palacio.
Roberto Donadoni's Parma will line up in a 4-3-3 system, with Amauri, Nicola Sansone and former Inter man Jonathan Biabiany leading the line.
This is not the only Serie A game tonight. Cagliari against Napoli is also being played tonight, and it has just finished 1-0 to Napoli. Marek Hamsik’s goal in the 73rd minute proved to be the winner at Stadio Is Arenas.
It's 10 minutes to kickoff in Parma, and the excitement is building.
Inter should start tonight’s match as favourites, but Parma will not be easy pushovers. The Gialloblu last lost at home in March, so Andrea Stramaccioni’s side will have some task on their hands tonight.
Napoli’s win at Cagliari has now placed them second in the league standings on 30 points, just two points off the pace. Inter will now start their Serie A game in Parma fourth, but a win will lift them to second, just a point behind leaders Juventus.
It’s just a matter of minutes before the game kicks off at Stadio Ennio Tardini...
And the game kicks off in Parma...
Inter Milan make the first attack of the game, as Diego Milito is sent through but the Argentine striker is caught offside.
ALMOST AN OWN GOAL THERE! Walter Samuel almost deflects an Marchionni cross from the right into his own goal, but Samir Handanovic is alert. The Inter goalkeeper then makes a good save from a close-range shot.
Yuto Nagatomo finds himself in a good position on the left and floats in a cross, but it is too far away for Rodrigo Palacio.
MILITO! The Inter striker takes a quick turn and shoots at the Parma goal, but it is blocked. It has been a lively start here, but not explosive.
Parma are trying to create an attack down the left flank, but Afriyie Acquah is dispossessed by the Inter veteran Javier Zanetti, who remains one of the best players in world football. At 39 years of age.
Free kick to Inter over 30 yards from goal. Could they take advantage from this set piece?
GUARIN! Fredy Guarin takes the free kick but it is just wide of the Parma goal! However, Antonio Mirante did have it covered, I must say.
Now Ricardo Alvarez tries to send through Milito with a long ball, but it is too long for the Argentine striker.
And speaking of Alvarez, he is one of the most promising young players in Europe and he could well prove to be a key player for Inter this evening. And so could Rodrigo Palacio, who has arguably been the best attacking player for the Nerazzurri so far this campaign.
Parma try to construct an attacking move but Nagatomo blocks Aleandro Rosi's cross.
VALDES! Jamie Valdes shoots from outside the box but his attempt sails over the Inter crossbar.
Inter have been the more attacking team in these opening 20 minutes of the match, but they have not really dominated proceedings. Parma seem happy to cede possession to the Milan giants at the moment.
The crowd is in loud voice at the moment, as both teams cancel each other out. Some good tackles are flying in, as Inter forward Antonio Cassano watches the game from the stands.
Oh, what a poor cross from Palacio! The former Genoa striker is released down the right flank and he floats a cross intended for Milito but it is overhit.
Now Guarin takes an attempt on the Parma goal from distance, hoping to catch Mirante out. However, the Parma goalkeeper is not fooled and catches his shot with ease.
Good play from Jonathan Biabiany twice in a minute. On both occasions he marches into the Inter Milan penalty box, but on both occasions he is dispossessed of the ball.
Clash of heads there between Cristian Zaccardo and Esteban Cambiasso as Aleandro Rosi floats in a teasing cross from the right. Both players are soon back on their feet, as play resumes at Stadio Ennio Tardini.
GUARIN! Cambiasso intercepts a Parma pass in the midfield and pushes forward an Inter attack. The ball eventually falls to Guarin, whose attempt is deflected off for a corner.
Half an hour gone in this match, and it remains goalless between Parma and Inter Milan. It has not been the most thrilling of matches, I have to admit, but it has been a typical competitive Italian football match.
Nicola Sansone lets fly an ambitious shot from distance, but it goes high and wide.
AMAURI! Biabiany floats in a cross from the right that Amauri heads towards the Inter goal, only for Handanovic to make a brilliant save. That was a great chance for Parma to take the lead.
Alvarez is in action for Inter now as he tries to whip in a cross from the left wing, but Marco Marchionni makes a good block. He is unable not to concede a corner, though, which yields nothing productive for the visitors.
MIRANTE! The Parma goalkeeper had to scramble to keep out a Cambiasso header from close range amidst a whole host of bodies inside the home side's penalty box.
Massimo Gobbi earns the first yellow card of the evening for his foul on Palacio.
Inter Milan are pressing on at the moment and are putting the Parma defence under pressure from all sides. However, Donadoni's team are looking dangerous when they are going forward.
Another chance for Parma, this time Gabriel Paletta getting behind Inter centre-back Andrea Ranocchia to head Valdes's free kick just wide.
Less than five minutes to half-time in Parma, It is goalless between the two teams at the moment. Will we see a late goal in the first half?
Amauri again goes close, but his attempt on goal from a corner is comfortably saved by Handanovic.
Parma are ending the first half on a stronger note than Inter, I must say.
It is half-time at Stadio Ennio Tardini, and it is Parma 0-0 Inter Milan. Both sides had chances to break the deadlock, though.
Inter have had 59% of the possession in the first half, but it is Parma who have come closer to making the breakthrough. Jonathan Biabiany has looked very likely and so has Amauri, while Samir Handanovic has made three or four very important and good saves for Inter.
Stay on this page for all the second-half action live from Parma, where it is goalless between the home side and Scudetto challengers Inter Milan.
The two sets of players are on the pitch. Second-half action should start anytime now.
And Parma kick off proceedings in the second half...
DIEGO MILITO! The Inter Milan striker shoots on goal, but Mirante makes a comfortable save. That was only the second time the Nerazzurri have had a shot on target in this match.
Amauri breaks into the Inter penalty area from the left side, but he is forced to shoot wide under pressure from Zanetti. Bright, positive and energetic start to the second half from both teams.
BIABIANY! Oh, he was so close to giving Parma the lead, as he just fails to connect with a brilliant cross from Gobbi from the left wing.
At the other end, Cambiasso whips in a cross but it is a poor one. Goal kick to Parma.
GUARIN! The Inter midfielder takes an attempt on the Parma goal from a narrow angle on the right and fails to keep it on target.
Handanovic makes a good save from that Valdes free kick that seemed to have taken a deflection on its way.
It is end-to-end stuff in Parma, but it remains goalless. But I can see a goal coming soon.
A cross is floated in from the right for Inter and is easily claimed by Antonio Mirante.
Parma launch a quick counterattack, as Valdes releases Biabiany, whose cross is headed away from danger by Ranocchia.
Half an hour remain in this pulsating game of football that is delicately balanced at 0-0. Both teams are going at each other at the moment.
GUARIN! The Inter midfielder is teed up by Milito outside the Parma penalty area for a ferocious shot at goal that is turned behind for a corner by Mirante.
Guarin has not been afraid to shoot from distance and it could be the only way that Inter could break the deadlock tonight. Despite their 60% possession at the moment, they are failing to penetrate really.
Good block from Nagatomo there inside the Inter penalty box, as he turns away an intended Rosi cross from the right.
Rodrigo Palacio becomes the first Inter player this evening to be shown the yellow card for his challenge on Parma striker Amauri.
Another good cross from Marchionni from the left that Inter clear away eventually. The Nerazzurri then launch a counterattack but once again lack the final killer ball.
Parma continue to take the game to Inter Milan, this time Gobbi galloping down the left before drilling in a low cross. Biabiany just fails to get a proper control of the ball, which the visitors clear away from danger rightaway.
Twenty minutes of normal time remain in this engaging Serie A clash between Parma and Inter Milan. At this point, I feel that a single goal will settle the affair.
Jamie Valdes goes into the referee's book for his challenge on Ricky Alvarez.
Milito runs down the right side of the Parma penalty area, cuts inside and squeezes a shot between two defenders, forcing a save from Mirante.
SUBSTITUTION Philippe Coutinho comes on for Ricardo Alvarez for Inter Milan.
SUBSTITUTION Aleandro Rosi comes off for Parma, and on comes Yohan Benalouane.
GOAL Nicola Sansone scores and makes it 1-0 to Parma! What a wonderful goal it is, as the Parma forward receives the ball way outside the Inter penalty box, runs with it, gets past a weak Fredy Guarin challenge and then shoots past Handanovic into the net from 20 yards.
That was a brilliant goal from Sansone, but Andrea Stramaccioni will not be happy with the space and time he was afforded by the Inter defenders.
Another change for Parma. Goalscorer Nicola Sansone is replaced by Ishak Belfodil.
MIRANTE! Wonderful save from the Parma goalkeeper from a quick shot from Coutinho.
Another Parma attack goes to waste there. Biabiany slips a pass to Marchionni, who floats in a cross looking for Acquah at the far post, but his ball is too long and goes out of play.
Five minutes to half-time, and Parma lead their more illustrious opponents Inter Milan 1-0.
ALMOST 2-0 THERE! Benalouane heads a Valdes free kick towards the Inter goal from close range that forces a brilliant save from Handanovic. Moments later Valdes's effort sails over the crossbar.
SUBSTITUTION Alfred Duncan comes on for Juan, as Inter make their second change of the evening.
Inter Milan are showing more urgency now, but they are failing to craft that final killer ball that would split open the Parma defence. Having said that, I must also note that the home side are not just sitting back - they are going for their second goal of the match.
SUBSTITUTION Third and final change for Inter Milan now. Esteban Cambiasso is taken off the pitch and is replaced by Marko Livaja.
Four minutes of injury time have been awarded. Parma lead Inter Milan 1-0.
Duncan is shown the yellow card for his rash challenge on Parma's Belfodil.
It's all over at Stadio Ennio Tardini, as Parma have defeated Inter Milan 1-0. In what was a very competitive and engaging Serie A match, Nicola Sansone's strike in the 75th minute proved to be the difference.
The result means that Inter fail to close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus and stay four points behind the Bianconeri in fourth place. Parma climb to seventh in the league standings.
I hope that you enjoyed our live coverage of the match here on Sports Mole. Have a good night. It's goodbye from me for now.
Written by
Subhankar Mondal
Subhankar Mondal
