Milan take themselves to within a point of leaders Inter with just seven days to go before the derby, but it was another far from convincing performance.
Both teams needed a good performance to make up for their sluggish midweek European games. Rivaldo was again favoured to Andriy Shevchenko while Gennaro Gattuso was still out of action due to a knee injury.
Parma had the first real opportunity on 10 minutes when Hidetoshi Nakata sprung the offside trap but incredibly ballooned over the bar.
Soon after Milan had penalty appeals waved away for a hold on Pippo Inzaghi.
There was bad news for the Rossoneri - and the Italy squad - as Alessandro Nesta limped off with a muscular problem after just 18 minutes. Parma also had an injury as Matteo Ferrari required stitches to his eyebrow following a clash of heads with Massimo Ambrosini.
Dida confirmed his fine form with a desperate one-handed save on Nakata's close-range header.
The Rossoneri started to take control after the half-hour mark and Dario Simic had sprung the offside trap, but the linesman incorrectly flagged as he was preparing his shot.
At the dawn of the second half the referee pointed to the spot for a Simone Barone handling offence as he was attempting to clear from Rivaldo. Andrea Pirlo stepped up and successfully converted to put Milan into the lead.
Inzaghi demanded another penalty when he fell under pressure from Junior and Daniele Bonera, but the referee waved play on.
Nakata continued his personal battle with Dida as the Brazilian palmed out another fierce effort by the near post.
Parma eventually got on the scoresheet with Emanuele Filippini. The former Brescia midfielder took advantage of a terrible defensive error and drilled a low drive from the edge of the box.
This was the first Serie A goal conceded by Milan at the San Siro this season.
The Gialloblu charged forward to make the most of this moment and Alessandro Costacurta hacked down Adrian Mutu. From the resulting free kick Mutu rattled the edge of the crossbar.
However, on 70 minutes the referee pointed to the spot again as Ambrosini was dragged back by a Parma defender. Pirlo stepped up again to restore Milan's lead.
Ambrosini could have further extended their lead but Sebastien Frey did well to fingertip his header onto the woodwork.
In the final minutes Alberto Gilardino came on and immediately fired a good opportunity over the bar.
Milan also went close as a fine combination with Thomas Helveg sliced the defence apart, but Rivaldo turned the finish wide.
The result stayed open until the final whistle as Dida scrambled across to parry a Sabri Lamouchi drive.
A scuffle broke out in the final minutes when Parma continued to play after Sam Dalla Bona had been knocked down with a head injury.
The final chance of the game fell to Mark Bresciano from close range, but the ex-Empoli man ballooned over the bar.
