AC Milan vs Cremonese | Serie A | Gameweek 1 | Pre Match

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AC Milan vs Cremonese

Following a forgettable year scarred by inconsistency, internal strife, and tactical confusion, fallen giants AC Milan will welcome Cremonese to San Siro for their Serie A opener on Saturday evening, hoping to begin the long road back to respectability. The Rossoneri, once the standard-bearers of Italian football, enter the 2025–26 season with a renewed sense of purpose and a familiar face at the helm. After a turbulent campaign that saw them tumble out of the top four and endure managerial upheaval, Milan are now under the guidance of Massimiliano Allegri, the man who last led them to Scudetto glory in 2011. Meanwhile, their Lombardy neighbors Cremonese, fresh off a hard-earned promotion, arrive with modest ambitions and a new manager of their own—Davide Nicola, a seasoned survival specialist tasked with keeping the Grigiorossi afloat in the top flight.

Despite lifting the Supercoppa Italiana and reaching the Coppa Italia final, Milan’s 2024–25 season was defined more by its failures than its fleeting successes. The club’s hierarchy, desperate to recapture past glories, cycled through two Portuguese managers—Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao—before finally pulling the plug on a campaign that had spiraled out of control. Fonseca’s tenure began with promise but quickly unraveled amid tactical rigidity and poor results. Conceicao’s arrival brought a brief uptick in intensity, but his abrasive style clashed with key players and ultimately proved unsustainable. By the time the season concluded, Milan had slumped to eighth in the Serie A standings, missing out on European qualification and leaving fans disillusioned and demanding change.

The nadir came shortly after the euphoric high of winning the Supercoppa in January, a triumph that briefly masked deeper issues within the squad. Milan’s Champions League exit at the hands of Feyenoord was a bitter pill to swallow, not just for its timing but for the manner in which the team capitulated. From that point on, the Rossoneri seemed to lose their competitive edge, drifting through the remainder of the league campaign and ultimately falling short in the Coppa Italia final. The lack of fight, cohesion, and identity was glaring, and it became clear that a reset was needed—not just tactically, but culturally.

Enter Massimiliano Allegri, a man whose reputation for pragmatism and discipline made him an ideal candidate to restore order. His return to the Milan dugout was met with cautious optimism, especially given the club’s decision to pair him with Luka Modric, the legendary Croatian midfielder whose arrival from Real Madrid sent ripples across the footballing world. Modric, though in the twilight of his career, brings invaluable experience, leadership, and technical brilliance to a midfield that had lost its way. His presence is expected to elevate the performances of those around him and instill a winning mentality that has been sorely lacking.

Milan’s pre-season preparations were extensive and globe-trotting, beginning with high-profile friendlies in the Far East against Liverpool and Arsenal. A 9-0 demolition of Perth Glory showcased their attacking potential, while subsequent matches against Leeds United and Chelsea provided sterner tests. The draw with Leeds was encouraging, but the loss to Chelsea exposed lingering defensive frailties and underscored the need for further refinement. Allegri used these fixtures to experiment with formations, assess new signings, and instill his tactical philosophy. The results were mixed, but the overall trajectory suggested a team slowly finding its rhythm.

The first competitive fixture of Allegri’s second spell came in the Coppa Italia, a tournament Milan have not won since 2003. Having failed to finish high enough in Serie A to earn a bye, they were forced to enter in the early rounds, facing Bari in a match that carried more weight than usual. Goals from Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic secured a 2-0 win, but the performance was far from convincing. Leao’s injury shortly thereafter added to the club’s woes, leaving Allegri with limited options up front. Pulisic, however, continues to be a bright spot. Since joining Milan in 2023, the American forward has amassed 33 goals and 20 assists in 100 appearances, proving himself a reliable contributor and fan favorite.

Cremonese, meanwhile, return to Serie A with a sense of unfinished business. Their last stint in the top flight, during the 2022–23 season, ended in relegation despite spirited performances. This time, they earned promotion through the Serie B playoffs, overcoming Spezia in a tense two-legged affair. After a goalless draw in the first leg, they surged to a 3-0 lead in the return fixture, only to concede twice late on and endure a nervy finish. The 3-2 aggregate victory was a testament to their resilience, but also highlighted defensive vulnerabilities that could be exploited at the highest level.

Despite their promotion, Cremonese opted for a managerial change, parting ways with Giovanni Stroppa and appointing Davide Nicola. Known for his miraculous rescue acts with clubs like Crotone, Salernitana, and most recently Cagliari, Nicola faces perhaps his most daunting challenge yet. The Grigiorossi lack the resources and star power of their rivals, and their historical record against Milan is bleak—just one point from eight away games and a winless streak on opening matchdays that now stands at eight consecutive defeats. Their early exit from the Coppa Italia, losing to Palermo on penalties, only adds to the sense of urgency.

Nicola’s approach will likely be pragmatic, focusing on defensive solidity and counter-attacking opportunities. The club is set to acquire Antonio Sanabria, a striker with Serie A experience, but their most potent weapon may be Jari Vandeputte. The Belgian playmaker has been a revelation, registering 28 assists since the start of the 2023–24 season—a tally matched only by Mohamed Salah across Europe’s top leagues and their second tiers. Vandeputte’s vision and delivery could be crucial in unlocking defenses and providing service to the forwards.

Milan’s summer transfer activity was frenetic, reflecting both necessity and ambition. Ardon Jashari, the Belgian Pro League’s Player of the Season, arrived to bolster the midfield alongside Modric. Pervis Estupinan and Samuele Ricci add depth and dynamism, while defensive reinforcements came in the form of Koni De Winter and Zachary Athekame. These signings aim to compensate for the departures of key players like Tijjani Reijnders, Theo Hernandez, and Malick Thiaw. The exodus also included several forwards—Alvaro Morata, Luka Jovic, and loanee Tammy Abraham—while Noah Okafor is set to join Leeds United. The squad overhaul reflects a desire to reshape the team in Allegri’s image: disciplined, balanced, and tactically astute.

With Leao sidelined, Allegri may turn to Santiago Gimenez and Pulisic to spearhead the attack. Gimenez, a promising talent, offers physicality and movement, while Pulisic’s versatility allows him to operate across the front line. The midfield will likely be anchored by Modric, with support from Ricci and Jashari, creating a blend of experience and youthful energy. The defense, still a work in progress, will need to be alert against a Cremonese side capable of springing surprises.

Adding further intrigue, Milan loanees Filippo Terracciano and Warren Bondo could feature for Cremonese, making a swift return to San Siro. Their familiarity with the Rossoneri setup could provide Nicola with valuable insights. However, the visitors will be without Mattia Valoti, Franco Vazquez, and Tommaso Barbieri, all suspended for the opener. These absences weaken an already thin squad and place greater responsibility on the remaining players to rise to the occasion.

As the match approaches, the stakes are clear. For Milan, it is a chance to begin the season with purpose, to demonstrate that the chaos of last year is behind them and that a new chapter has begun. For Cremonese, it is an opportunity to defy expectations, to show that they belong in Serie A and can compete with the league’s heavyweights. The contrast in ambitions—title contention versus survival—adds layers of complexity to the encounter, while the shared history and regional proximity inject a dose of rivalry.

San Siro, a cathedral of football, will bear witness to this clash of narratives. The fans, weary from disappointment but hopeful for redemption, will look to Allegri and his new-look squad for signs of progress. The atmosphere will be charged, the expectations high, and the margin for error slim. Whether through a Modric masterclass, a Pulisic strike, or a Vandeputte assist, the match promises drama, intensity, and the kind of spectacle that defines Italian football.

In the broader context of Serie A, Milan’s resurgence is vital. The league thrives when its historic clubs are competitive, and the Rossoneri’s return to form would elevate the overall quality and global appeal. Cremonese’s fight for survival, meanwhile, embodies the spirit of the underdog, the relentless pursuit of belonging in a world dominated by giants. Saturday’s opener is more than just a game—it is a microcosm of ambition, resilience, and the ever-turning wheel of football fortune.

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