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AC Milan got their 2025-26 campaign off to a winning start under the lights of San Siro, beating Bari 2-0 in the Coppa Italia round of 32.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) has an analysis from the game, starting by remarking that Massimiliano Allegri’s influence is evident already, aided by the fact that Bari are obviously inferior in quality.
The two goals – from Rafael Leao in the first half, then Christian Pulisic at the start of the second – were not enough given the chances created. Milan, in short, are ready for the league and for a Cremonese side that failed to impress in the Coppa Italia, losing on penalties (and points) to Palermo.
Attacking movement
Milan started the game with Leao as the furthest forward, so without a true number nine. However, when he was forced off due to injury, Santiago Gimenez came on in his place and this caused Landucci – standing in for the suspended Allegri – the shift things a bit.
This was the first sign of the new Milan, a fundamental indecipherability that could become an additional weapon against opponents ill-equipped to respond. It’s difficult to pinpoint the tactical system, in other words.
The Rossoneri set up with a three-man defence, with Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlovic, but then they built out from the back without any fixed coordinates. It looked like a 3-5-2, but Pulisic starts wide on the left to create a three-man attacking line, with Leao in the centre and Saelemaekers, an additional striker, on the right.
Milan attacked more down Saelemaekers’ side initially than Estupinan’s, with Tomori as a Barzagli-style stopper/full-back. Milan never settled into a five-man defence, not just because Bari didn’t force them to, but by choice to avoid losing a player.
The shift
When Leao left the pitch, with Gimenez more central, Milan shifted to a more orthodox 4-3-3, with Saelemaekers almost as a winger, and Ricci dictating the tempo between two attacking players.
Loftus-Cheek was on the left, tasked with moving inside to press, and Fofana on the right, getting forward and eager to shoot. Against this wave of pressure, Bari could do very little.
Milan entered with the right attitude and decided to make things clear right away with a series of attacks that turned into goals when Tomori crossed the ball onto Leao’s head from the right side. It was a goal worthy of a striker, but the Portuguese player immediately called for a substitution.
Pulisic hit the crossbar, and a couple of fine saves from Cerofolini kept it at 1-0. The second half saw another surge of aggression, and Pulisic – among the best performers – won the ball in the attacking midfield role, exchanged passes with Gimenez, and sealed the match.
Modric, the leader
Then there’s time for other new players. Jashari is so-so, and Modric made a grand entrance. He doesn’t have Kroos alongside him: the German’s ball-handling skills would be crucial to unleash his class.
However, Modric gave a glimpse of his superior class, capable of prising open a side that were happy to try limit the damage. Above all, he’s the key to Milan, like and perhaps more than Juve, asserting themselves as a third force behind Napoli and Inter. Milan at least has a recognised leader.
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