Parma vs AC Milan preview - Bonera wary of Parma

Posted Saturday, March 17, 2012 by PA

AC Milan defender Daniele Bonera has warned his team-mates their success on the field this season has made them an even bigger target for opponents.

Milan head into the last 11 games in Serie A in the enviable position of being alive in all three competitions.

Massimiliano Allegri's men are in the last eight of the Champions League and have also made it through to the Coppa Italia semi-finals, while they are firm favourites to win the Scudetto.

Last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Lecce was Milan's fourth win in their last five league games, and lifted the Rossoneri four points clear of Juventus at the top of the standings ahead of the match at Parma.

However, Bonera knows his team cannot get carried away.

"Every team wants to beat us," said Bonera, who will face his former club this weekend.

"We cannot take Parma lightly. They play well at home and we will have to be very careful."

The Rossoneri head into the game knowing they will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League later this month.

"We face the strongest team in the world," coach Allegri said. "But we have to believe we can beat them.

"I am confident my side will bring out their best in this tie.

"If we progress from this quarter-final, we have a good chance to reach the final."

Parma have lost just three games at the Ennio Tardini stadium this season but the Gialloblu have hit a rough patch of late and are winless since February 5.

Last weekend's 1-1 draw at Atalanta saw the Ducale club drop to 16th in the standings, six points clear of the drop zone.

"We need to play with great concentration and intensity," Parma coach Roberto Donadoni said.

"If we allow Milan space to hit us on the counter-attack, then we will be punished.

"The less mistakes we make, the better the chances of us taking something positive from this game."