The 2004-05 campaign was a season of dramatic turmoil and near-disaster for Parma as Il Crociati finished a precarious 17th in Serie A, only retaining their top-flight status through a tense, do-or-die relegation play-off victory over rivals Bologna. Leading the line was the phenomenal young striker Alberto Gilardino, whose sensational 23 league goals anchored the attack and saw him finish as the league's second-top scorer, a performance that earned him a blockbuster move to AC Milan. Despite the domestic struggle, the team delivered a glorious European run, reaching the Semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. It was a dark, unforgettable year defined by Gilardino's brilliance and the club's desperate, last-gasp fight to survive.