Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao will provide an offensive union when AC Milan plays against Bari in the first round of the Coppa Italia on Sunday night. It is the first competitive match of Massimiliano Allegri as coach of the Rossoneri, who want to return to the Seria A at the right foot and are planning their opening match on Saturday September 3- against the still promoted Cremonese.
They are being treated to two new faces in the starting line-up of Milan against Bari: Italian midfielder Samuele Ricci and Ecuadorian left wing-back Pervis Estupinan. In the meantime, newcomers Luka Modric and Ardon Jashari are on the bench and Youssof Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek come in along with Ricci in the midfield. On the other flank to Estupinan starts returning loanee Alexis Saelemaekers.
Without a natural centre-forward other than Santiago Gimenez, Allegri has chosen Leao and Pulisic-two of Milan top scorers in 2024-25- as front two.
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Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Ricci, Loftus-Cheek, Estupinan; Pulisic, Leao.
Bari (4-3-3):Cerofolini; Dickmann, Nikolaou, Vicari, Dorval; Bellomo, Braunoder, Pagano; Pereiro, Moncini, Sibilli.
The game between Milan vs Bari will bring a Coppa Italia kick off that promises to be exciting and see Allegri men take an early initiative to the 2025-26 season.
