The 2025/26 season in Italy begins this weekend with Coppa Italia action, as AC Milan welcome Bari to the San Siro for a first-round clash. The Rossoneri will be targeting a positive result ahead of the Serie A kick-off, while the visitors will look to boost their confidence with an early upset.
AC Milan will be looking to shake off a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, where they finished eighth in the table. However, they did have good showings in the Cup competitions, winning the Super Cup before losing to Bologna in the Coppa Italia final.
Massimiliano Allegri is back at the helm for AC Milan and oversaw a decent preseason campaign. The Rossoneri have won three of their last four matches but were beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in their final preparatory game.
Bari, meanwhile, head into the clash fresh from an impressive pre-season, winning three of their four matches. Their final outing saw them beat Serie C side Picerno 3-0, with Gabriele Moncini, Emanuele Rao and Giuseppe Sibilli all on the scoresheet.
While things looked good in preseason, Bari have been unconvincing in competitive matches, losing three of their last five fixtures. Fabio Caserta’s men are also poor travellers and are winless in nine of their last 10 away matches.
How the bookies view it: AC Milan overwhelming favourites
The bookies are confident in an AC Milan victory, with the hosts valued at 1/6 by BoyleSports to come out on top. Bari have a 12/1 chance to record an upset at San Siro, while a draw is set at odds of 11/2.
Head to head: History favours AC Milan
AC Milan have ruled this fixture over the years and are unbeaten in the last 10 meetings, winning seven of those fixtures. The last Coppa Italia meeting ended in a 3-0 win for the hosts back in 2011, with the Rossoneri also edging Bari 1-0 in their most recent clash in November 2015.
Players to watch: Leao to shine
Portuguese forward Rafael Leao should lead the way for AC Milan in this fixture, having bagged three goals in five pre-season games. The 26-year-old scored 12 times last season and could combine with Santiago Gimenez to produce over 1.5 goals for the hosts (AC Milan over 1.5 goals – 1/4 with BoyleSports.
Gabriele Moncini is the man to watch for Bari, with four goals in pre-season. He formed a solid partnership with Giuseppe Sibilli last season, and both men could produce over 0.5 goals – offered at 4/6.
Probable line-ups:
French goalkeeper Mike Maignan keeps his place in between the sticks for AC Milan, with Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic in defence. Summer signings Pervis Estupinan and Ardon Jashari should also start the game, while Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez lead the line.
For Bari, Marco Pissardo is likely to get the nod in goal, while Lorenzo Dickmann, Dimitris Nikolaou and Francesco Vicari in defence. Matthias Braunoder and Nicola Bellomo should start in midfield, with Moncini and Giuseppe Sibilli leading the attack.
AC Milan: Maignan; Pavlovic, Tomori, Terracciano; Estupinan, Fofana, Jashari, Musah; Leao, Loftus-Cheek, Gimenez
Bari: Pissardo; Dickmann, Vicar, Nikolaou, Mane; Onofrietti, Braunoder, Bellomo, Pagano; Moncini, Sibilli
Anything else catch the eye?
AC Milan have scored in both halves in three of their last six matches (AC Milan to score in both halves – available at 3/4 with BoyleSports). Scoring in both halves could also see the Rossoneri win both halves – priced at 13/10.
There have been over 1.5 first-half goals in three of AC Milan's last four matches (First half over 1.5 goals – valued at odds of 6/5).
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