Having failed to finish high enough in Serie A last season, AC Milan must begin their latest Coppa Italia quest in the first round, meeting Bari at San Siro on Sunday.
Following a chaotic 2024-25 campaign – in which they still lifted the Supercoppa Italiana and reached the cup final – Milan are intent on challenging for more trophies this season.
Match preview
By their lofty standards, Milan have endured an abysmal year, dispensing with two Portuguese coaches – first Paulo Fonseca, then Sergio Conceicao – and finishing only eighth in Serie A.
Though they won the Supercoppa Italiana in January, the Rossoneri also went on to be dumped out of the Champions League by Feyenoord before tamely losing the Coppa Italia final to Bologna.
So, change was inevitable at San Siro, where former boss Massimiliano Allegri has returned to take charge of the seven-time European champions, with Real Madrid legend Luka Modric arriving to add more control on the pitch.
After Far East friendlies against Liverpool and Arsenal, followed by a 9-0 thumping of Perth Glory, Milan finished off pre-season with another Premier League double-header last week.
Having been held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United in Dublin, Allegri’s men then visited Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where they went two goals and one man down within 20 minutes and ultimately lost 4-1.
The Rossoneri now resume competitive duties, setting off on their latest attempt to win a sixth Coppa Italia – and their first since 2003 – before playing newly promoted Cremonese in the league six days later.
It has also been an eventful few seasons for Bari, having just missed out on promotion to Serie A in 2023, then narrowly avoided relegation one year later.
There was to be no playoff drama in May, though, as the Biancorossi finished four points shy of Serie B’s top eight.
As a result of ending up in mid-table, head coach Moreno Longo was shown the door, and Fabio Caserta has been installed as the new manager at Stadio San Nicola.
Caserta took Catanzaro into the playoffs last term, and that will be his target with Bari, following a largely successful pre-season.
Before starting their league campaign with a tough trip to freshly relegated Venezia, the southern side must first head for San Siro, meeting Milan for the first time since a Serie A clash there some 14 years ago.
AC Milan pre-season form: L W W D L
Bari pre-season form: W L W
Team News
Max Allegri is likely to test a few of his fringe players in the cup, so Milan may not field a full-strength XI on Sunday.
Some new arrivals will come under consideration, though, with Belgian Pro League ‘Player of the Season’ Ardon Jashari, Pervis Estupinan and Samuele Ricci all joining Luka Modric at the club this summer.
Defensive duo Koni De Winter and Zachary Athekame may also feature, but key man Tijjani Reijnders and several forwards have left: Alvaro Morata is bound for Como, while Luka Jovic and loanee Tammy Abraham have already departed.
So, Allegri may ask Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez to lead his attack; Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze are alternative options.
Bari, meanwhile, should name experienced striker Christian Gytkjaer up front, following his recent move south from Venezia.
New coach Fabio Caserta has talked up the talents of Giuseppe Sibilli and Parma loanee Anthony Partipilo, so they could also feature in the final third.
Vincenzo Colangiuli and Sheriff Kassama have been undergoing separate training this week, and they may both miss out.
AC Milan possible starting lineup: Terracciano; De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic, Estupinan; Musah, Ricci, Jashari; Pulisic, Gimenez, Leao
Bari possible starting lineup: Cerofolini; Nikolaou, Vicari, Pucino; Braunoder, Bellomo, Pagano, Tripaldelli; Pereiro, Sibilli; Gytkjaer
Vincenzo Colangiuli and Sheriff Kassama have been undergoing separate training this week, and they may both miss out.
