AC Milan were beaten 2-1 by Cremonese on the first Serie A matchday of the 2025/26 season. A game filled with frustrations, and old ones at that.
Massimiliano Allegri opted to go for a versatile 3-5-2 formation for his return to the Serie A touchline, with Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic leading the line. Additionally, a debut was given to new midfielder Luka Modric.
The game did not start fantastically, though. In fact, the Rossoneri fell behind to a header from Baschirotto after around 30 minutes. 15 minutes of really failing to hit back followed, but they managed to on the stroke of half-time.
Some nice work on the left-hand side resulted in a cross being sent into the unmarked Strahinja Pavlovic, who sent the ball into the back of the net.
The momentum from that goal would not follow through, though, as Cremonese spectacularly took the lead through Bonazzoli, who scored a delightful acrobatic attempt. As good as the goal may have been, though, it was another cross that the Rossoneri failed to deal with.
Milan kicked off the game, and they would also have the first somewhat-chance of the game, with Alexis Saelemaekers attempting a run through the middle of the pitch. However, he ran into traffic.
In the minute that followed, Milan got the ball into the box once again. This time, Santiago Gimenez was played through, and despite being off balance, the Mexican still managed to get a shot on goal, which was sent behind for a corner; though, nothing came from the resulting set-piece.
On the stroke of the 10th minute, Cremonese had their first attack of the game. Pervis Estupinan was pressed well, and despite claims for a foul, the referee allowed the harrying as the Ecuadorian was dispossessed.
From that, Zerbin ran well down the line, but the attack came to nothing. An early let-off for Estupinan, indeed, but certainly not a massive alarm bell. Instead, more of a wake-up call.
The five minutes that followed saw the game open up a little bit, with the visitors looking to spring fast counters, whilst the Diavolo were happier to take their time on the ball.
Two chances, decent or otherwise, arrived in a short space for Milan. Firstly, Estupinan lined up a shot from 30 yards or so, which flew quite well past the post, cheeky and not terrible, in fairness. Then, some good work from Ruben Loftus-Cheek resulted in a shot for the Englishman inside the box, but it was well blocked.
Milan appeared to have the lead just before the 20th minute as Gimenez was played into the box, and he finished nicely with his first and only touch. However, the flag was raised, with him just setting off a little too quickly. A beautiful ball from Luka Modric, though, and a nice finish, bright.
At the back, the same could not really be said as Strahinja Pavlovic made quite a big mistake, which the visitors picked up. Though Bonazzoli could not finish the chance, thanks to a good stop from Mike Maignan. Another wake-up call for that left-hand side.
Despite starting quite nicely, Baschirotto would actually head the visitors ahead in the 28th minute. Finding space between Pavlovic and Gabbia, the Italian met Zerbin’s cross well, and Maignan was left helpless between the sticks.
As for the header itself, there was little Maignan could do. However, allowing the defender to get into that position unchallenged is really poor from the Rossoneri’s defence—something which feels all too familiar, really.
Following the goal, it was quite a struggle for the Diavolo to get up the pitch. Finding a ball through to the attack was difficult. When they did get through, the Cremonese defence were quickly active and stopped the progression.
Just before half-time, Milan broke into the box, thanks to a nice pass from Modric, which Cremonese put behind. From the resulting corner, Gimenez was left clear at the back post and attempted to finish on the swivel. However, his shot, awkward as it may have been to get off, went well wide.
Despite offering little for most of the half, Milan would go into the break level, thanks to Pavlovic. After some great work from Saelemaekers on the left-hand side, Estupinan was given the ball. He went to the byline and then gifted a cross to Pavlovic, who headed home well.
A huge goal, all things considered. If nothing else, a chance to reset for the second half, which was needed after the first 45.
That would be the last effort from Estupinan, though, as Allegri opted to remove the Ecuadorian for the second half, bringing on Alex Jimenez in his place.
As the second half began, the Diavolo looked to capitalise on their momentum, with Loftus-Cheek finding his compatriot Tomori in the box. The defender hit a shot on the spin, and with it being rather weak, it was easily saved. Nevertheless, the right sort of start.
Modric showed his class again as the Rossoneri built up from the back, and eventually the midfielder found himself in an attacking position. Gimenez fed his veteran teammate, who sat outside the box, and he attempted a shot, which the Cremonese keeper was forced to save.
He was in action a lot during the next few minutes, making a nice stop from the corner, which Matteo Gabbia was unlucky not to follow up in. Then, Youssouf Fofana had a nice attempt saved, too. The Rossoneri were piling on the pressure, indeed.
Shortly after, the Frenchman was found on the edge of the box with a delightful ball; after taking it down well, though, he fired over the bar, despite Gimenez calling for the ball across the box. A poor decision, though it would have been a gorgeous goal, had it played out like it likely did in his mind.
It would come as no surprise then that Cremonese would then take the lead again just after the 60th minute, and the method was no shock either. Another cross into the left pocket of the defence was met beautifully by Bonazzoli in an acrobatic manner.
Poor to concede again, with Gimenez losing the ball in a dangerous position. Again, another goal which Milan have conceded too often. Frustrating.
Pulisic, who had been largely quiet until that point, attempted to get things level straight away, as he cut in from the left side. However, his curling shot did not trouble anyone from a Cremonese perspective.
Following the goal, Allegri opted to make a more attacking sub, taking Tomori off for Samuele Chukwueze.
Nothing really happened for the next 10 minutes, with neither team showing any sign of scoring. Though that was to be expected, with the visitors looking to hold onto their advantage.
As the 73rd minute rolled around, Modric’s Serie A debut was brought to an end, with Ardon Jashari taking to the field to make his heavily anticipated first Serie A appearance.
Considering the circumstances, Allegri’s men began to ramp up the pressure a little, making a few nice changes in a short period.
None really garnered the attention more than a shot from Loftus-Cheek, though; his shot from just inside the box fooled many inside San Siro, but the Englishman had fired into the side netting. Better, but not enough.
Things descended into a very cagey affair as the clock started to head towards the end of time. Though the Rossoneri were not doing much to avoid it, really. For what it’s worth, throughout the game, they had not really done much to get Cremonese playing how they wanted them to.
Nevertheless, the odd cross did little against the opposition, who were happy to just mop up the ‘danger’, if you wanted to do it the pleasure of giving it such a tag.
A couple of half-chances followed in the final minutes, Jimenez found Loftus-Cheek, who couldn’t get a shot off, whilst the Rossoneri also had a few corners, which they did nothing with.
The full-time whistle blew shortly after, and Milan were left with a lot of feelings which needed to be gone after last season. Instead, they continued into the first game. Poor defensively, disconnected up front.
