The last time Milan lost their first match of the season at the San Siro, it was under Allegri, as well, a 1-0 loss to Sampdoria in 2012. That was following the exit of all of the Senatore (because of Allegri,) and also Galliani selling Ibrahimović and Thiago Silva for a bag of cash. This summer, we lost quality players such as Reijnders, Theo Hernández, Thiaw, Kyle Walker, Tammy Abraham, and twenty other players from our roster. Twenty. Just as in 2012, they were either replaced with less talented players or not replaced at all. So it is no surprise that history repeated itself after a transfer purge like that, and Milan lost 2-1 to Cremonese at the San Siro in their first match of the 2025-26 season. (That is newly promoted Cremonese, by the way.) People were begging for a "winning coach," but Allegri is back.
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| Here we go again. |
To be fair, no one in Milan circles is talking about what an amazing match Cremonese had. They revamped their entire starting 11 after earning promotion, and Davide Nicola did a fantastic job, too. People spend way too much time talking about headline-grabbing managers like Allegri, and never bring up managers like Nicola, a "salvation specialist" whose bottom of the table teams have killed more than their fair share of giants over the years.
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| Nicola making the most of Milan's rejects like Bondo and Terracciano. |
I first learned about Nicola when he lost his 14 year-old son, who died in an accident while riding his bicycle. Three years later, he made a promise to his Crotone team that if they avoided relegation, he would bicycle the length of Italy, 1300 kilometers. They avoided the drop, and he made the journey, also raising awareness of road safety. Perhaps if people paid more attention to back stories like this, they would understand our opponents better and understand the type of man we were up against. If you were to compare the character of the two managers, Allegri was going to lose this match every single time.
The overly criticized Santi Gimenez had a shot in just the fourth minute that was deflected off of the post, and Audero injured himself going for that one. In the 16th minute, Estupiñan tried a shot from distance that was just wide. In the 19th minute, Santi Gimenez actually put the ball into the back of the net in what would have been a great goal, but he was offside. But then Milan's defensive frailties began to show. Milan literally weakened the defense at each position, and Allegri chose a three man back line, which exposed the worst of all three central defenders.
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| Santi wasn't even expected to play 90 minutes yet, but for Leão's injury and the club's transfer decisions. |
In the 23rd minute, Pavlović made a massive error trying to clear the ball, sending it directly to Cremonese's attackers, but luckily Maignan made one of his brilliant saves to salvage some dignity for our defense. Then Pezzella fired a warning shot that went just wide. At the other end, Loftus-Cheek sent one well over the bar, then Pulisic sent one in that was an easy grab for Audero. Then it happened. In the 28th minute, Zerbin sent a beautiful ball in from well outside of the box, and Baschirotto rose up between Milan players and headed it home. 1-0 Cremonese.
Loftus-Cheek was down in the box in the 34th minute, but referee Collu had no interest in awarding a penalty. Collocolo did make contact with him from behind, but in this instance, I think it was the ease with which Loftus-Cheek went down that cost him the penalty, had he simply let gravity do its thing, a VAR review may have just given him the call. Just before halftime, Santi sent a shot just wide after a corner, but it was our real striker who equalized in stoppage time. Estupiñan, who had been playing so poorly that Allegri had already had his substitute warming up for at least ten minutes, crossed the ball in, and Pavlović, who had also been really struggling defensively, headed it home. 1-1 all. Pavlović celebrated with the passion that only he does, including immediately kissing the crest. Probably the two players on the pitch for Milan who had been the poorest on the pitch combined to become the heroes.
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| From zero to hero in a single header. |
The second half was far more eventful, as Milan peppered Cremonese's goal with a total of 24 shots by the end of the match, but only six on target. Cremonese earned four yellow cards, as the match got more heated as well. It started with a halftime sub of Álex Jiménez on for Estupiñan, the new Ecuadorian fullback who had actually looked decent against Bari last week. Tomori took a shot that Audero had to grab, then Santi in a very tight space sent it way over. Fofana took more shots in this match than I can count, and I think maybe one was eventually on target, it was incredibly frustrating. Speaking of saves, Audero made a huge save, pushing a great shot from Modrić over in the 52nd.
The shooting practice continued, until out of the blue, former Inter player Bonazzoli scored a golazzo, an acrobatic scissor-kick volley that sent the ball just inside of Maignan's net and out of his reach. 2-1 Cremonese. I hated the fact that it was him so much, but it was a stunning goal, and really just had to be applauded, no matter which side you were on. Still, it stung. This was not the script for the first match of this season. It was supposed to be better this year, but here we were, having conceded two goals already in just the first match.
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| Maignan did save his defense when he could, but he's only one player. |
In the 65th minute, Allegri subbed Chukwueze on for Tomori, then almost ten minutes later, Jashari replaced Modrić, who was one of the few highlights for Milan. But as time was running out, things got more desperate. Saelemaekers tackled Pezzella to regain possession, but then Payero just shoved him to the ground while he was running, right in front of the referee. As Collu was showing the yellow card to Payero, Bonazzoli gave Saelemaekers another little shove for good measure, and obviously, there were many angry words exchanged.
In just the very next minute, Zerbin fouled Jiménez, but it was Jiménez who was carded, as he threw one of his angry tantrums and screamed at Collu. He was probably lucky not to see red. Jiménez has garnered many comparisons with Theo Hernández, not just because he is a skilled and very fast fullback from Real Madrid. Their temperaments are also similar, and Jiménez, while just 20 years old, has reportedly already faced the wrath of Allegri's discipline.
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| The 20 year-old's fiery reactions are definitely a liability. |
Ahead of the team's trip to Ireland and England, Jiménez was reportedly late for training. So Allegri sent him to train with Milan Futuro. He mysteriously did not travel with the first team for the two friendlies, but rather took part in a friendly with the Futuro side that weekend. There was also speculation that it was this same time that he traded his trademark bleached blonde look for a darker, more natural hair color. However, I think people just missed the change, because he was injured during the Summer Tour, because when he played in Perth, it was already darker. No official sources on any of this, of course, but Jiménez did post a picture on his social media of him scoring with Futuro that weekend.
Loftus-Cheek put the ball into the side netting, then Jashari taught Bonazzoli not to shove our players by properly shoving him down to the ground. Clearly, he is a Milanista, I am looking forward to him playing in the Derby. Milan were desperate, but still not able to get the goal. Chukwueze had a shot that went to Audero, and in stoppage time, Santi's header from very close range was stopped by Pezzella. The final whistle blew, and an already eerily quiet San Siro was in shock. This was the first time Cremonese had ever won vs. Milan at the San Siro. Of course, the fans who had been silent the whole match were certain to whistle and jeer the team after such a poor result.
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| This man has to wonder what on earth he has gotten himself into. |
It is impossible to know whether or not a Curva Sud that has been robbed of its colors and its very identity might have helped change the outcome of this match had they not been silent due to the overly harsh sanctions against them. But I do not blame them. This issue is far too important to ignore. And with many fans losing their right to renew their season tickets just for having protested management last year, their silence is really ironically the only voice they have left. But, of course, we heard and saw the Cremonese fans all match, of which there would have been 5,000 or fewer in a sold out stadium of 75,000 people. Something has to change, because this will only further harm the team and the rest of the fans if it continues.
Serie A's most decorated manager who was hired as a "guarantee" who might even win it all was out-coached by a manager who is younger and hasn't even won anything yet. The team with a wage bill at least four times higher was beaten by a team of inferior players, including a number of on loan or former Milan players. Sure, Leão was missing, but the tactics were also wrong, and many felt that Allegri did not use the players at his disposal well. He risked players' fitness just to put together a starting 11. For example, he started both Santi Gimenez and Modrić, who were the least fit of anyone, having come back from their summer vacation later than everyone else. It was all of these things and more that gave Milan the loss. Ladies and gentlemen, the real Allegri is back.
Milan Futuro are Victorious on the Serie D Coppa Italia
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| Duțu's header opened up the scoring. |
Sunday evening saw Milan Futuro's first competitive match, the Serie D Coppa Italia match vs. Tavigliese. Massimo Oddo's team lost 15 players so far, most of them permanent transfers, after the disgraceful relegation last season due to the horrific management of the Futuro project by Ibrahimović and Kirovski. Yet, in spite of this, they managed a 2-0 win vs. Tavigliese in their first match, with opportunities for several of the new signings to debut in the red and black. The goas came from a header from Duțu, wearing the captain's armband, in the 70th minute, and then Quirini's shot in the 75th. Brief highlights are available. Having knocked Tavigliese out of the competition, they travel to Gozzano on Sunday for the next round before the League kicks off on September 7th.
Sassuolo Hand Renna's Primavera Their First Loss
With his penalty, Lontani has scored all three goals now for the Primavera this season.
After a perfect start with their win over Lecce Week 1, Coach Renna suffered his first loss with a 2-1 defeat by Sassuolo Primavera. This was the team who had knocked Milan Primavera out of the Scudetto playoffs in May. The guys were unfortunate in that a brace from Kulla, with goals in both the 15th minute, then another in stoppage time, put Sassuolo up 2-0 at halftime. That was a tough hill to climb, but Milan Primavera fought back. Sassuolo's Manchioni was sent off in the 90th minute, and Lontani converted the resulting penalty to get Milan back in the match. Domniței nearly equalized in stoppage time, but Sassuolo's keeper made a great save. Sassuolo Primavera took all three points. Milan Primavera host Genoa Primavera on Sunday.
Reviewed by Elaine
on
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