Milan kicked off the 2025/26 season with a 2-0 victory over Bari in the Coppa Italia Round of 32 on August 17, 2025. The match at San Siro drew over 71,000 spectators and doubled as a grand unveiling of seven new signings, including the legendary Luka Modrić. It wasn’t a flawless night, though. Rafael Leão scored, then limped off injured barely four minutes later — and that subplot ended up dominating headlines just as much as the win itself.
Here’s everything you need to know about Milan vs. Bari: the goals, the key moments, the stats, the injury fallout, and what the result means heading into the season.
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Match Overview: The Setting and the Stakes
Milan entered this fixture under somewhat unusual circumstances. After finishing eighth in the 2024/25 Serie A season — the club’s worst finish in years — the Rossoneri were forced to enter the Coppa Italia at the preliminary round rather than the round of 16, where top clubs usually come in. That meant starting the campaign a full week before Serie A rivals like Inter and Juventus.
For Massimiliano Allegri, returning to Milan for a second stint after being appointed in May 2025, this was his first competitive game back in charge. There was just one complication: he had to watch from the stands due to a suspension carried over from the 2024 Coppa Italia final. His assistant, Marco Landucci, took the touchline duties.
Bari, meanwhile, came in as a Serie B side with ambitions of returning to the top flight after 14 years. Managed by Fabio Caserta, they were never expected to cause a major upset, but they showed enough organization and defensive discipline to suggest they wouldn’t be a walkover.
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Milan Competition: Coppa Italia Frecciarossa 2025/26, Round of 32 Attendance: 71,000+ Referee: Alberto Ruben Arena
Starting Lineups
AC Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Fofana, Estupiñán; Pulisic, Leão
SSC Bari (4-3-3): Cerofolini; Dickmann, Vicari, Nikolaou, Dorval; Bellomo, Braunöder, Pagano; Pereiro, Moncini, Sibilli
Allegri went with his preferred 3-5-2 shape — the same formation he drilled throughout pre-season. Two new signings, Samuele Ricci and Pervis Estupiñán, started from the first minute. Luka Modrić and Ardon Jashari were named on the bench, with fans waiting eagerly to see both make their competitive debuts.
How the Goals Happened
Goal 1 — Rafael Leão, 14th Minute
The opening goal came from an unlikely source: Leão’s head. Fikayo Tomori picked up the ball on the right and whipped in a precise cross. Leão rose above the Bari defence, and his header hit the back of the net firmly — only his fourth headed goal in 71 appearances for the club. The San Siro erupted. Leão and Pulisic embraced in celebration.
What happened next, though, was gut-wrenching. Within minutes of scoring, Leão was pointing to his right calf and dropping to the ground. The medical team rushed on. It was clear he couldn’t continue. He was replaced by Santiago Giménez in the 18th minute, leaving the stadium in a far more subdued mood.
Goal 2 — Christian Pulisic, 48th Minute
The second half started brightly for Milan. Sustained pressure eventually paid off three minutes after the restart. Giménez — making his presence felt despite only just coming on — played a sharp one-two with Pulisic, and the American finished crisply from the centre of the box, sending it into the bottom-right corner.
It was a typically clinical Pulisic finish, and it effectively ended the contest. Bari had little answer going forward, managing only six shots all game compared to Milan’s 24.
Key Moments and Talking Points
Modrić and Jashari’s debuts: Both came on in the 66th minute to a thunderous reception from the home crowd. Modrić, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner fresh from Real Madrid, immediately showed his quality — feinting past two defenders in the box before seeing his shot saved by Cerofolini. Jashari, signed from Club Brugge, also impressed with his composure and pressing intensity. These two will clearly be central to Allegri’s midfield plans.
Pulisic hits the crossbar: Before his goal, Pulisic had a fierce effort tipped onto the bar by Cerofolini in the first half — a reminder of the fine margins in this game.
Giménez’s goal disallowed: The Mexican striker, who replaced Leão, had a goal ruled out for offside shortly after coming on. He eventually got his assist for the second, though.
Allegri watches from the stands: The head coach was under suspension from the 2024 final against Bologna (which Milan lost) and was forced to manage via communication from the stands. Landucci handled press duties post-match and addressed the Leão injury situation directly.
Seven new signings introduced: Before kick-off, all seven summer arrivals — Terracciano, Athekame, De Winter, Estupiñán, Ricci, Jashari, and Modrić — were introduced to the San Siro crowd. It felt as much like a celebration as a competitive fixture.
The Leão Injury — What We Know
This became the defining story of the night. Leão suffered a strain in his right calf, which AC Milan officially confirmed in a club medical bulletin days later. The injury ruled him out of Milan’s Serie A opener against Cremonese the following Saturday (which Milan ended up losing 2-1).
He also missed the win over Lecce. Reports indicated he was targeting a return after the first international break of the season, with the match against Napoli in late September cited as a potential comeback fixture. Milan confirmed he returned to group training ahead of that game.
The timing was brutal — it was actually the first time in his seven seasons at Milan that Leão scored in the very first match of a campaign. He chose quite a moment to do it, and quite a moment to get injured.
Full Stats Breakdown
The numbers from this game tell a story of Milan’s dominance balanced by missed opportunities:
- Shots: Milan 24, Bari 6
- Expected Goals (xG): Milan 1.93, Bari 0.21
- Shots on target: Milan significantly outnumbered Bari
- Corners: Milan dominated set piece situations
- Clean sheet: Maignan was barely tested, keeping his net untouched
For statistical context, Bari’s only serious effort in the first half was a good save by Maignan from a Sibilli attempt in the top-right corner. That was about as threatening as the visitors got. The xG gap — 1.93 vs 0.21 — shows just how one-sided the game was in reality, even if a 2-0 scoreline might suggest it was tighter than it was.
Notable Stats and Records from the Night
A few specific numbers stand out from this fixture:
- AC Milan have now won five of their last six season-opening matches in all competitions (with one draw), scoring 13 goals across those games — an average of 2.2 per game.
- Leão’s 71st goal for the club was only his fourth headed finish. His previous header came against Empoli in Serie A on February 8, 2025.
- Pulisic reached 33 goals + 20 assists in all competitions since joining Milan in 2023/24 — making him the only Serie A player with at least 30 goals and 20 assists in that timeframe. Rafael Leão is second on the Milan scoring charts with 28.
- Fikayo Tomori provided his fourth assist for AC Milan in all competitions, with three of those coming in 2025 alone. His cross for the Leão header was textbook — measured, precise, and perfectly timed.
How Bari Performed
It would be unfair to completely write off Bari’s effort. They came to San Siro with a clear game plan — compact shape, limited risk-taking — and they executed it reasonably well for stretches of the match. Cerofolini made some excellent saves, including the stop on Pulisic’s bar-rattling effort and a late save from Modrić.
Their attacking output was naturally limited. The Moncini-led front line had little quality service to work with, and the midfield trio of Bellomo, Braunöder, and Pagano were outclassed. Mehdi Dorval on the left had been linked with top clubs before the season (including Napoli), and you could see why — he caused Saelemaekers occasional problems.
Head coach Fabio Caserta made useful second-half changes: Verreth and Rao came on at the hour mark, and Partipilo followed. But the damage was already done.
What This Means for Milan’s Season
This result accomplished exactly what it needed to for Allegri’s side:
- A clean sheet in the first competitive outing builds confidence for Maignan and the back three
- Pulisic looks sharp and hungry — his goal and general link-up play were highly encouraging
- The new signings (Estupiñán, Ricci, and later Modrić and Jashari) all made positive first impressions
- Milan advance to the Coppa Italia second round, where Lecce await in September
The shadow hanging over all of it, of course, is Leão. Without him, Milan’s attacking line loses its pace, unpredictability, and a direct goal threat. Giménez — the other key summer signing — is the natural replacement, but he’s still finding his feet in Italian football.
Still, this was a winning start. Milan are in motion. The next challenge was Cremonese in Serie A — and the Leão situation had everyone on edge heading into it.
Head-to-Head Record: Milan vs. Bari
This wasn’t exactly a rivalry with much recent history. The two sides hadn’t met since January 2011, when Allegri (in his first stint in charge) oversaw a 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Bari at San Siro. The historical record is entirely in Milan’s favour:
- Milan wins: 3
- Bari wins: 0
- Draws: 1
- Milan have kept a clean sheet in each of the last four meetings
This dominance makes sense when you consider the gap in league levels. Bari are a Serie B club trying to build back toward the top flight. Milan, for all their struggles last season, remain one of Italy’s most storied clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the final score of Milan vs. Bari in the Coppa Italia 2025?
AC Milan beat Bari 2-0 in the Coppa Italia Round of 32 on August 17, 2025, at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro).
Who scored for AC Milan against Bari?
Rafael Leão scored the opening goal in the 14th minute with a header. Christian Pulisic added the second in the 48th minute, finishing after a one-two with Santiago Giménez.
Why was Allegri not in the dugout for Milan vs. Bari?
Massimiliano Allegri served a suspension carried over from the 2024 Coppa Italia final. His assistant, Marco Landucci, took charge of the technical area for this match.
\What happened to Rafael Leão during the match?
Leão was forced off in the 18th minute — just minutes after scoring — with a suspected calf injury. Milan later confirmed he sustained a strain in his right calf, ruling him out of their Serie A opener against Cremonese.
Did Luka Modrić make his debut for AC Milan in this game?
Yes. Modrić came on as a substitute in the 66th minute, making his competitive debut for the club. He received a standing ovation from the 71,000+ crowd at San Siro and produced a memorable double-feint in the box before seeing his shot saved.
Did Ardon Jashari also debut?
Yes. Jashari also came on at the 66th minute alongside Modrić, making his competitive debut simultaneously.
What formation did Milan use against Bari?
Allegri deployed a 3-5-2 system, with Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlović in defence, Saelemaekers and Estupiñán as wing-backs, and a midfield three of Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, and Fofana.
How many shots did Milan have vs. Bari?
Milan had 24 shots to Bari’s six. Their expected goals (xG) figure was 1.93, compared to just 0.21 for Bari.
Who replaced Rafael Leão after his injury?
Santiago Giménez came on for Leão in the 18th minute. Giménez went on to provide the assist for Pulisic’s second goal.
What round do Milan play next in the Coppa Italia?
After beating Bari, Milan advanced to the second round (Round of 16 qualifying stage), where they faced Lecce in September 2025.
How many goals has Pulisic scored for AC Milan overall?
As of this match, Pulisic has scored 33 goals in all competitions since joining Milan in 2023/24, making him the only Serie A player to reach 30+ goals and 20+ assists in that period.
Was Leão’s goal his first headed goal for Milan?
It was only his fourth headed goal in all competitions for the club. Of his 71 total Milan goals at that point, headed finishes make up a very small portion.
Was the match broadcast on free-to-air TV?
Yes. In Italy, the match aired live on Canale 5 and was also streamed on Mediaset Infinity and the Sportmediaset website.
How long was Rafael Leão expected to be out after this injury?
The calf strain kept him out for approximately three to four weeks. He missed the Serie A opener against Cremonese and the win over Lecce, targeting a return after the first international break in September 2025.
What is Milan’s historical record against Bari in the Coppa Italia?
Milan are unbeaten in all eight previous Coppa Italia meetings with Bari, winning five and drawing three, and have kept clean sheets in each of the last four encounters.
Why did Milan have to play in the Coppa Italia’s preliminary round?
Their eighth-place finish in the 2024/25 Serie A season meant Milan entered the Coppa Italia earlier than usual — at the Round of 32 rather than the Round of 16, where the top Italian clubs typically start.
Who were the seven new signings presented before the match?
The seven new arrivals introduced to the San Siro crowd before kick-off were: Terracciano, Athekame, De Winter, Estupiñán, Ricci, Jashari, and Modrić.
What was Fikayo Tomori’s role in the opening goal?
Tomori provided the assist, delivering a well-placed cross from the right side that Leão headed home. It was Tomori’s fourth assist for AC Milan across all competitions.
