Supercoppa Semifinal • Napoli vs. Milan: Authentic Champions

Milan are the reigning Supercoppa champions. In January, they lifted the trophy in Riyadh amidst a very turbulent season. However, that was an entirely different team. Different manager and staff, and only nine players remain from that team. So in a way, they come into this match more like the other teams, even if the trophy sits in Casa Milan. Napoli, on the other hand, come to Riyadh as the reigning Serie A champions, and unlike Milan, they have the same manager and much the same team as lifted that trophy in May. So this match is not only a semifinal to see which team plays for the next trophy on Monday, but it is also a test for authentic champions.

Remember that Milan team of... January?

Milan 2, Sassuolo 2: We Have An Allegri Problem

If something happens once, it can be written off. If it happens again, it is worthy of notice. But if it happens three or more times, it is a problem, and cannot be ignored. Allegri has this Milan performing remarkably well, particularly in light of the very thin squad and the injuries we have faced. However, dropping points yet again to a newly promoted side with this 2-2 draw with Sassuolo is a huge red flag for our season. Because most of our dropped points have come against these sides which we should (on paper) be dominating. Each match has its own list of issues, but since it keeps happening, we have an Allegri problem.

No striker? No problem. Bartesaghi opened his account with a brace.

Milan-Sassuolo Preview: Allegri's Nightmare Before Christmas

The last time Allegri was Milan's manager, it was a 4-3 loss to Sassuolo away that got him sacked. Even though that was almost 12 years ago now, I find it hard to believe that this fact has not crossed his mind. Worse still, having dropped points against the other newly promoted sides, he must be concerned about the team losing focus and dropping points again. Particularly with Fabio Grosso's side doing so well this season. However, the last time he faced Sassuolo on the Milan bench, it was Berardi who scored four against Milan, and gratefully for us, Berardi is injured. So, while there is hope, this could easily still be Allegri's Nightmare Before Christmas.

Allegri's last panettone at Milan, just before he was sacked.

Torino 2, Milan 3: Burning Up

In a match where everyone expected Milan to drop points again to Torino, the unthinkable happened. First, Milan found themselves down 2-0 in less than 20 minutes. Then Rabiot decided to score his first Milan goal against his former cross city rivals in the most spectacular of ways. And when push came to shove, an unexpected hero – the player who was not even expected to play due to having a fever – came on and turned the entire match upside down in just 10 minutes. And, just like that, Milan defeated Torino 3-2, their first win over the Granata in Turin since the Scudetto season. Back then, Pioli was on fire, now Milan are just destroying dreams, even when they're burning up.

Torino's former captain and our feverish hero.

Torino-Milan Preview: Get In, Get the Win, Go Home

Much is being made of a stat that someone cherry picked to cover our last 12 matches away to Torino, showing that we have only won once during that period. No one mentions that six of the matches were draws, or that three of the five losses were just by a single goal. And no one is talking about that win, when we went to Turin and destroyed their souls with a 7-0 defeat they may never come back from (and also may never forgive us for – eternal revenge.) Also no one is talking is that with Cardinale's buy-a-whole-new-team-every-season-plan, those were literally all different teams. And while Allegri himself will not be on the bench for this one, it seems the guys played better for Landucci before anyway. So I think the guys just shrug off all of these sill stats and just get in, get the win, and go home.

The only thing they have to fear is... stats and media noise. They can do this.

Lazio 1, Milan 0: Insidious Failure

Many fans are justifying Milan's 1-0 loss to Lazio Thursday and consequently abrupt exit from the Coppa Italia as acceptable, given the primary objective this season is a return to the Champions League. While finishing top four is definitely the number one target, going deep again or even winning the Coppa Italia was another objective, particularly given the lack of European competition this season. Given that Milan are the reigning Supercoppa champions and Coppa Italia finalists from last season, not only is being eliminated in the Round of 16 completely humiliating, it is a complete failure with hidden consequences that most fans do not seem to be able to see or acknowledge at this point of the season. This was a winnable match that Allegri did not seem to take seriously enough, and while some are blaming the referee again, the bottom line is that it was an insidious failure.

Allegri even dressed like he has entered his villain era.

Coppa Italia Round of 16 • Lazio-Milan Preview: Allegri's Test

Saturday's Serie A match at the San Siro vs. Lazio was a preview for this one. However, there is actually more on the line in this match for Allegri at this point in the season. Not playing in Europe suddenly makes the Coppa Italia a more serious competition for him to at least progress in, if not do well or even win this season. And Lazio are a tough opponent to meet at this stage, too, as we saw on Saturday. Plus, they are in the Round of 16 because of their success last season. Milan, even after making it to the Final and winning the Supercoppa last season, had to play two qualifying matches. Being knocked out would now would be beyond embarrassing. And, with him having a vacation day on Monday after being sent off (again), he needs to make a good showing in this match. Because it's a win or go home scenario, so it will be Allegri's test.

Allegri has had the balls to play young Bartesaghi in place of experienced Estupiñan, he can handle this.

Milan 1, Lazio 0: Descent Into Madness

Saturday's match was a typical Allegri match. Battle... blah blah blah... score one goal... defend, defend, defend. All the way into stoppage time. But Lazio were not going to let that happen, they always bring the chaos and the drama. So, in the 96th minute, the match quickly descended into a complete and utter chaotic mess that included two straight red cards, a non-penalty call, and 14 minutes of stoppage time. They are blaming the referee team, and giving credit to the head referee for finally getting things under control. However, Milan's 1-0 win over Lazio could not possibly be only on them. If you saw the match, you'll know that it was an overall descent into madness.

The wall of Milan who provide calm in the chaos.

Milan-Lazio Preview: Sorry, Not Sarri

Coming down from the Derby high, Milan must stay grounded as Le Aquile (the Eagles) fly into town. Well, maybe not fly. They are eighth in the table and had an awful summer due to a transfer ban imposed by poor financial management. Sarri, having returned this summer after more than a year away from coaching, has struggled to get Lazio off the ground and consistently winning. Which means that Allegri, especially with injuries is more likely to struggle against his team. Normally, I would feel bad for a team in a bind like this, but it's Lazio. Sorry, not Sarri.

The team that stays together will win... I think.

Inter 0, Milan 1: Owning the Derby

No one has ever gotten younger watching Max Allegri's football. His "corto muso" style of winning ages you. However, the man also has not lost a Derby since 2015, either. And that did not change on Sunday, when Inter were owned with a 1-0 Milan win in the Nerazzurri's home Derby. They tried groin-kicking, hair-pulling, elbowing our players in the face, groping them when they were down, and more... typical Inter antics that went unpunished. The goalposts denied them. And even when given a penalty, their feeble minds could not handle it. With just one goal, Milan put Inter in their place, which was certainly not first place. Even our Curva Sud fans stole focus from Inter, shining a light on the strength of our fans. And that is what we call owning the Derby.

Sodalizio Rossonero.

Inter vs. Milan Preview: A Derby to Call Our Own

This Derby will be different than any Derby della Madonnina in the past 90 years, as it will be the first Derby held in a San Siro owned by Milan and Inter instead of the municipality of Milano. With the deed having been turned over earlier this month, there is literal ownership of this match. Unfortunately, it is an Inter home Derby, so they will reap the financial benefits as well as have the support of the "home" crowd. And even more unfortunately, the local authorities still seem to be playing for the Marotta League, as they imposed a last minute ban on Milan Curva Sud's main banner. An absurd restriction, considering that it was Inter and their Curva Nord who were proven to have been completely infiltrated and the stadium run by mafia families on their matchdays, not Milan, the supposed reason for the whole Double Curva investigation. After more than a year of unfair bans and sanctions, Milan fans just want a Derby to call our own.

Last year, Gabbia made Inter's Derby our own with a late winner.

Parma 2, Milan 2: Hat Trick of Dropped Points

Allegri's Milan have now faced all three newly promoted sides. And they have dropped points to each team. From the loss to Cremonese, last month's draw with Pisa, and now the 2-2 draw with Parma on Saturday, they have lost seven points from the nine available. The first one was the first match of the season, then against Pisa, he was missing important players. But there wasn't really any justification for dropping points this time, he had most of his players healthy and arguably a much better squad than Parma. Is Allegri simply cursed? This match completed Milan's newly promoted opponent hat trick of dropped points.

I doubt anyone warned Modrić about Allegri's impotence with the newly promoted sides.

Parma-Milan Preview: The Curse of Allegri

Allegri has enjoyed the implicit, perhaps even glorified endorsement of the Italian media since his return to AC Mlan. Except when it comes to playing newly promoted sides. His first match and singular loss this season was to newly promoted side Cremonese. The second newly promoted side faced, Pisa, cost Allegri two points, and nearly three. Saturday, Milan travel to face the third and final newly promoted team, Parma. With nearly all of his players back, will he finally be able to orchestrate a convincing win? Particularly with Parma missing so many players of their own? Or will Milan struggle once again, and drop points because of the curse of Allegri?

Allegri consults Landucci on how to break the curse of the little teams that could.

Milan 1, Roma 0: Reluctant Gladiators

Playing against Roma is always a battle, but sometimes more combative than one would like. This match was definitely far more action-packed than the scoreline would indicate, and much of that action ended up being less about football and more about brutality. However, at the final whistle, Milan won 1-0 over Roma in a very hard fought victory with unlikely heroes. And, despite Roma's best efforts, I believe all our players escaped injury, which is another victory in and of itself. It was the kind of match that was violent enough to be unsettling, but a victory that meant more later because of both the battle and the result. That can happen when your team are called upon to be reluctant Gladiators.

Winning when it matters.

Milan-Roma Preview: For the Money

Just a month ago, Milan had defeated Napoli to go top of the table. Since then, they have had three draws, dropping six valuable points. Now, they are fighting just to stay in the top four as they host Roma, who come into this weekend joint top of the table themselves. For Milan fans, this match is a tough sporting challenge, complicated by the numerous injuries the squad have been dealing with. However, for Cardinale, Sunday is a marketing opportunity. A chance for his €1.3 billion marquee investment to help promote a product of his €1.8 billion investment in a struggling media and entertainment company. For Gerald, this one is for the money.

It's not about the football, it's about the billionaire getting more money.

Atalanta 1, Milan 1: Every Day is Like Halloween

Another draw, the second in a row. At least a 1-1 draw to Atalanta in Bergamo is not as shocking to the sensibilities as last Friday's draw with bottom of the table Pisa. However, it is becoming more clear just how thin this squad is and how much the injuries are impacting results. Ahead of the match, Tare said, "It wasn't expected that six players would get injured during an international break." But clearly, he has not actually followed Milan, or Allegri, for that matter, over the years. Injuries are the only thing that Milan has been consistent with over the past decade or two. Like the walking wounded or a bad zombie show, at Milanello, every day is like Halloween.

One moment of brilliance was not enough for those who were not injured.

Atalanta-Milan Preview: Even God Herself Has Enemies

Tuesday night, Milan travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta, where they have not won since the Scudetto season in October of 2021. But that was like three Cardinale Year Zeros ago, when Pioli was still here and Gasperini was still leading the Nerazzurri. Now we have Allegri back at the helm, and La Dea has a new leading man in Ivan Jurić. That does not change the animosity between our two sides, though, especially after the catastrophic Christmas Massacre of 2019. Even God herself has enemies.

De Ketelaere, Pašalić, and Daniel Maldini are all former Diavoli pretending to be Goddesses now.

Milan 2, Pisa 2: The Plight of Sisyphus

In Greek Mythology, Sisyphus is eternally condemned to pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down every time he reached the top, so he would have to start all over again. Allegri seems to have been similarly condemned. He has managed to struggle and get this team to the top of the league, only to be knocked down by the very bottom. Milan nearly lost this one, but were able to manage a 2-2 draw with 20th place Pisa thanks to a stoppage time goal. Much like the inexplicable loss to newly promoted Cremonese, Milan are caught in Allegri's struggle, the plight of Sisyphus.

A winning manager destined to struggle against the newly promoted sides.

Milan-Pisa Preview: Return of Gilardino

What could be better than facing the bottom of the table newly promoted side on a Friday night? Especially with so many players out injured? After the painful loss vs. newly promoted Cremonese in August, even Allegri clearly has his concerns. However, this one is welcoming back an old friend, Alberto Gilardino. And the Pisa fans just made it even easier for us by earning themselves a three match travel ban, giving us the chance to have a sold out all-Milan San Siro, complete with flags and banners again. So, maybe this one won't be so bad. After all, if we can avoid the danger of a team with nothing to lose, we could go into this weekend with a four point advantage at the top of the table. Kinda seems like the perfect way to celebrate the return of Gilardino.

Returning to the San Siro with a nothing to lose.

Milan 2, Fiorentina 1: Raising the Question

Sunday's match raised more questions than it answered. What happens when you have more outfield players injured in the stands than you have healthy outfield players available on the bench? Why is Allegri insistent upon forcing Leão to play as a lone striker? Why must Milan suffer so much against a team that is winless in Serie A this season, even with such a superior roster? I mean, Milan pulled off the 2-1 win over Fiorentina. But some have questions about the validity of the second goal, the one that also put Milan top of the table. Was the foul on Gimenez a clear and obvious error for the VAR team to point out to Marinelli? Should players be punished when they "enhance" their reactions to minimal contact? Should referees be better about reviewing incidents when players do not react at all? And why can the AIA not just give a straight answer? The result may say that Milan took all three points, but it really just created more controversy and saw everyone raising the question.

Was it a penalty? Should players react? Are these Allegri's starting attackers? Just raising the question.

Milan-Fiorentina Preview: Pioli's Birthday Bash

On Monday, Stefano Pioli turns 60. The night before, he will manage his 500th Serie A match as he returns to the San Siro and the handful of players that remain from the team he won the Scudetto with, the one he got tattooed on his arm. In honor of his return, Milan have five players definitely out injured, and one still doubtful as of this writing. And, to make extra special, Milan's Curva Sud will be able to have their flags and banners again at San Siro for the first time in nearly a year, and will be singing in full voice as well. Hopefully, they'll make a banner or sing one more round of "Pioli is on Fire" for the man who managed Milan for nearly five years, even if he went back to his old team now. Hopefully, it will be one to remember for Pioli's Birthday Bash.

How Pioli would probably much rather have celebrated his 60th birthday.

Juventus 0, Milan 0: Remorse

Following a very tense match, Milan left Turin with just one point and plenty of remorse after their 0-0 draw with Juventus. While Juve did well to match Milan's intensity, Milan did not maximize their chances, and it was two points dropped, not a point gained. With a pitch that seemed very slippery, players from both sides having slipped during the match, it just made things that much more difficult. And, whenever there is a missed penalty, of course, there is always an extra helping of regrets stirred in with the disappointment. There was no need for individual criticism, however, everyone knew they could have done more, could have done better. The entire team will look back at this one with remorse.

A strong performance, yet not enough, there will be remorse.

Juventus-Milan Preview: Returning to the Scene of the Crime

Playing for Juventus is a crime. That's why they wear the black and white striped prison shirts. And we have players in our squad who are past criminals. Not only that, but Allegri committed his biggest crimes at Juventus as well. Going to J Stadium, this will be a homecoming for players like Rabiot and De Winter, but it will also be a "what might have been" for current criminals and former Milan players like Kalulu and Locatelli. But Allegri won five Scudetti and six  other trophies with Juventus after his singular Scudetto and Supercoppa at Milan. And he left Juve ugly, too. So emotions will be high for all of these players, but especially for Allegri, as they are returning to the scene of the crime.

Not sure if Juve are prepared for the way Pulisic has been playing.

Milan 2, Napoli 1: Are You Not Entertained?

Sunday night, Allegri's Milan exploded with two first half goals, then conceded a red card and a penalty to go down to ten men with more than 30 minutes left. Conte's Napoli converted the penalty, but were otherwise unable to break down Milan's defense no matter how hard they tried. The final score was Milan 2, Napoli 1.This was an epic matchup between the Serie A titleholders and league leaders going into this match and last season's underperforming eighth place team, who came into this match in third place, but left as the new top of the table team. And the best part was that Milan were cheered on for the entire match by their beloved Curva Sud, who broke their season long silence to create the atmospheric sound the San Siro is known for. After such an intense and epic match, the only question is: Are you not entertained?

Pulisic with the assist then the goal, he is inevitable.

Milan-Napoli Preview: Battle of the Minds

Sunday's match is a highly anticipated matchup. Not just for third place vs. first place. Not just for Milan vs. Napoli. Nor just the matchup between champions like Modrić vs. De Bruyne. There is also plenty of anticipation for the matchup between Allegri and Conte, the two current Serie A managers who have won the most. Allegri claims six Scudetti. His first, of course, with Milan, then five more at Juventus. Conte has three with Juve, one with Inter (which he unforgettably dedicated to himself,) and is, of course, the reigning titleholder with Napoli. Both managers are known for their passionate and sometimes explosive personalities, and both managers served bans related to matchfixing during their playing careers. They are as different as they are similar, but pitting two managers who have won so much against one another will always be considered a battle of the minds.

When Allegri still had hair and Conte still had hair plugs.

Milan 3, Lecce 0: Never A Chance

As mentioned in the preview, Lecce were unlikely to get a result going into this match. And Milan's 3-0 win vs. Lecce hardly tells the whole story. Milan had 77% possession and took 24 shots to Lecce's two. And sure, a lot of that was due to the disparity between the two clubs. But there was another unfortunate event that greatly impacted the match. Lecce played with ten men from the 18th minute. Yes, after an early red card, Lecce's Coppa Italia dreams were shattered. There was never a chance.

Magical and wholesome.

Coppa Italia Second Round • Milan vs. Lecce: Never Say Never

Yes, I know we just played Lecce, but that was in Serie A. This is the Coppa Italia. And Lecce are here after eliminating Abate's Serie B side, Juve Stabia in the first round. However, in Serie A, Lecce are bottom of the table after four rounds, while Milan miraculously sit in third. Given that we uncomfortably defeated Lecce 2-0 last month, and our respective positions on the table, this one may seem like a foregone conclusion. However, anything can happen in 90 minutes, and stranger things have been known to happen. Lecce could knock Milan out if we are not careful. Never say never.

After being presented ahead of the first Coppa match, how many of our new players start in this one?

Udinese 0, Milan 3: For Your Consideration

Typically, a trip to Udinese is a difficult match, but Milan made it look easy on Saturday. Pulisic stole the show with two goals and an assist, but even Fofana finally found the back of the net. In fact, there were so many positives in the 3-0 win over Udinese that the media and fans have gone off the deep end with overreactions and grandiose adulation declaring the entire season a success based on this one match. I did notice something, though, with the absence of Allegri. In the five matches so far in the Coppa Italia and the league, our two best performances were when Allegri was not on the bench. Coincidence? Or do they actually perform better with a visibly more calm Landucci? Just a little something for your consideration.

Pulisic gave everyone a night to remember.

Udinese-Milan Preview: No Jacket Required

The away match to Udinese is always a difficult one each season. A match made more difficult by the racial abuse of Maignan two years ago and the subsequent performative gestures made by Udinese and its fans that were a little too much, followed by a successful appeal of their partial stadium closure, of course. But with Maignan serendipitously injured for this one, he won't have to deal with the not-racist racists there. Instead, this match will be sans Allegri after his red card last week vs. Bologna. Again. In fact, he'll miss Tuesday's Coppa Italia match as well, which means he will have missed three of his first six matches due to his compulsion to rage strip for the referees. So, for this match, there will be no jacket required.

No jacket, no party.

Milan 1, Bologna 0: The Modrić Show

After all the other Milan teams had played on Sunday and won, from the U15 and U16 teams, the U17 team winning their Derby, and the Primavera and Milan Futuro and Women's teams winning their matches, the pressure was on the first team. This match had all the beginnings of another disappointment, with a first half that was reminiscent of our opening match vs. Cremonese. And even after things picked up in the second half, injuries, the referee team, and Allegri all tried to steal focus. But in the end, you cannot ignore class, and Modrić was dripping with it in this match. Not only did he finally get his first goal for Milan after his big birthday this week, but a beleaguered Milan team defeated Bologna 1-0 and inevitably became the Modrić Show.

Magic from Modrić, destruction for Bologna. Theater.

Milan-Bologna Preview: Not In Our House

The last time Bologna came to the San Siro, we managed a 3-1 victory over them, but probably because our boys had their mommas there. Because just five days later, in Rome, they took our Coppa Italia trophy from us (with an assist from the referee and local authorities.) But everything has changed for Milan. Literally, we only have nine of the same players left from the team that played those matches in May. And while our San Siro has become even more eery and silent due to ridiculous and oppressive measures from the club and local authorities, this time, our Curva Sud will have the support of the Bologna fans. They, too, are boycotting this match to demonstrate how important organized fan support is to Italian football. The club cannot keep pushing this stereotyping, marginalizing, and damaging agenda on our most passionate fans. Not in our house.

The Curva Sud will be there, but they will sound like this, "The Sound of Silence"

The Theo Hernández Travesty

Milan have said goodbye to one of the best players they have had in decades, Theo Hernández. Maldini himself proclaimed him as his heir, and he is the one who signed the French left back in 2019. Theo would go on to break Maldini's record as Milan's all-time highest scoring defender just this past season. And he did it in just over five years, while it had taken Maldini 25 years to set that record. And the criminal part in losing Theo is that he wanted to stay. He had been trying to get a contract renewal for two years, since before Maldini was sacked. But not only did Milan not offer him a renewal, they pushed him out, threatening to freeze him out this season if he did not accept a move to Saudi Arabia. Theo fought it for weeks, and eventually acquiesced, with the media, fans, and his own club turned against him. After all he gave this club in the past six years, the hell he endured off the pitch and with his family, he still loved Milan and was willing to stay. But Milan did not love him back. That is the Theo Hernández travesty.

Theo loved Milan. But Milan did not love him back.

Lecce 0, Milan 2: Brutal Win

Nothing is coming easy for Milan right now, and this 2-0 win over Lecce was yet another example of that. Allegri lined up the same painful way and with the same tactics as last week's debacle vs. Cremonese. There were two disallowed goals, Allegri being Allegri, and Lecce actually threatening us a few times before we finally pulled it together and got a couple of goals that actually counted. But the disallowed goals were not the only time referee Marinelli had the spotlight, as he failed to stop the match as FIFA protocol requires when Camarda had a head injury. And the 17 year-old was pulled off at halftime and taken to the hospital for examination. But then there were the fans, a packed Via del Mare that seats 33,000, with our Curva Sud finally attending with their banners and in full voice. And the volume made for an intense atmosphere that was both fiery and yet welcoming and familiar. It was like coming home, even though Milan were actually away. All things considered, though, it was a brutal win.

Escaping the Via del Mare with a win in spite of an overall brutal performance.

Lecce-Milan Preview: Paying for Camarda

After years of having very few quality players come through our youth sector, Milan struck gold when Francesco Camarda came through. The striker, a lifelong Milanista, whose father brought him with him in the Curva Sud at San Siro and even has a Curva Sud tattoo, became a prolific scorer in the youth sector, scoring 485 goals in just 89 matches. As a Milan and Italy generational talent, his development was being carefully supervised under Maldini. But once he was sacked, things went downhill quickly, and last year, the club failed him completely. So Milan sent him on loan this season to Lecce, with option to buy and Milan retaining a buyback clause. But to incentivize his playing time, Milan are reportedly paying Lecce bonuses of €75,000 for each appearance and €100,000 for every goal he scores. And seeing how Milan cleared out all but one of our strikers, and are still scrambling to find one more, it has been noted that we could have really, really used Camarda this season on our roster. Instead, on Friday night at the Stadio Via del Mare, we will literally be paying for Camarda.

It hurts so much to see him wearing another jersey.

Milan 1, Cremonese 2: Allegri Is Back

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.

Here we go again.

Milan-Cremonese Preview: RedBird's Funeral Parlor

Despite Sunday's successful Coppa Italia win over Bari, there was something very much to be desired. The atmosphere at the San Siro was eery and abysmal, unworthy of this great club, and lamented even by those who have associated with the guilty parties. Following the harsh restrictions imposed by the local law enforcement on the use of banners, flags, and coreografia last season due to the investigation and conviction of eight members of the Curva Sud, Milan increased the tensions by blacklisting a number of Curva Sud members for participating in protests against the club last season. The Curva's response was to not cheer as usual on Sunday, which was a sad and haunting experience, and they have announced that they will do this again for this match. For once, I actually very much support their actions, even though it impacts the team, because there is so much at stake here for the future. If they lose this battle, the San Siro will eternally become RedBird's Funeral Parlor.

Normally colorful and full of life, the San Siro has become RedBird's Funeral Parlor.

Milan 2, Bari 0: Even Without Allegri

Milan played their first official match of the Allegri era on Sunday in the Coppa Italia, and managed a 2-0 win over Bari, even without Allegri. The recycled new manager was suspended for two matches after his unwelcome rage striptease act while on the Juventus bench in the Coppa Italia Final in 2024. In the saddest and most generic San Siro atmosphere I have ever seen, our new players were presented, and then the team went on to earn their spot in the next round without too many problems. There were obviously positives and negatives, but it was comforting to know they pulled it off, even without Allegri.

 A team filled with leaders, veterans, new, and young players can win even without Allegri.