Month: February 2026

Milan’s unbeaten run ended versus Parma. Mariano Troilo jumped over Bartesaghi and headed the ball in while Lautaro Valenti was impeding Maignan’s movement. Marco Piccinini said no goal but a change was made after consultation with VAR and checking the on pitch monitor. Valenti’s subtle but real action was ignored but the goal was given on the basis that there was no foul on Bartesaghi. The apparent assessment that the Italian defender ‘buckled easily’ under pressure was a laughable explanation. As there has been no explicit mention of a dive this opens the door for a third option between a player diving or not. Not for the first time refereeing influenced a result. Of course this site would mention those involving Milan, a fan site should do no less, bias or not.

So now Milan has fallen back -10 points behind Inter and has to concentrate and fight to retain a top four spot. Milan start by first visiting the team that inflicted the opening day loss before the unbeaten run started.

The lineup remains in flux with Loftus-Cheek definitely out after he suffered a broken jaw in a contact with Edoardo Corvi, Parma’s goalie. A non-reviewed incident. Fofana might return to his spot leaving Jashari and Ricci on the bench. Saelemaekers and Bartesaghi will start on right and left midfield and Modric will be in the middle. Gabbia is not fully fit and he didn’t start versus Parma. Tomori, De Winter and Pavlovic look to start again in front of Maignan. Pulisic and Leao made a rare start as a duo and may be entrusted to do again for this match at Cremonese.

Four players are one yellow away from missing the derby. However, it is thought that Allegri is not hesitating in using Rabiot, Fofana, Athekame or Saelemaekers in this early afternoon match.

The loss brought on or resurfaced rumours of unhappiness on the part of Allegri, directed at management and Furlani in particular. Regardless of their truth finishing in the top four and being more proactive in the summer is, as always, a necessity. Tare will have a lot on his plate as the team hopefully fills in needs with targeted significant spending instead of another round of wholesale changes aka a year zero.

Warren Bondo and Cremonese are in the middle of a relegation fight with Lecce and Fiorentina each trying to avoid joining what now looks like inevitable relegation for Pisa and Verona.

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Milan versus Como has become a sort of rivalry. Como’s coach, Cesc Fabregas, seems to relish becoming a sort of a tough talker when it comes to Milan. It is the view of this writer that coaches commenting on other coaches is somewhat hypocritical. This is especially the case when it comes to tactics. All coaches, defensive and boring or the opposite, have a stubborn streak when it comes their preferred tactics and it should be left to fans and analysts or journalists to discuss their merits publicly not opposing coaches. In any case, Cesc drew criticism for pulling on Saelemaekers’ jersey as the match was going on and in the ensuing argument it was Allegri who was shown a red in the week 24 1-1 tie.

Back to Milan. The starting 11 seems to be ever changing, whether to knocks and injuries or less apparent reasons. The midfield had often featured Fofana when many hoped and wanted more minutes for Ricci and Jashari. There seems to be a shift with the latter two now getting more chances. The experience they gain ahead of what is hoped a much busier 2026-2027 season will be beneficial. A decision from Modric for next season is not expected to arrive before the summer but of course the Croatian will start when possible while being a mentor for every other member of the team. Rabiot is returning from the controversial suspension and will start. Bartesaghi may or may not feature from the start but Saelemaekers will start. In the back Pavlovic has a minor injury suffered during the Como match and is likely to be on the bench. De Winter will deputise. Up front has had its own rotation of sorts with Pulisic remaining less than 100%. Leao continues to look less than fully fit as well but took advantage of a goalie misread to score in the Como match. Nkunku is a likely starter again. Pulisic and Fullkrug can provide a different look if needed.

Parma remain one of the lowest scoring teams in Serie A but have now won two in a row beating Bologna and lowly Verona.

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Milan needed a Modric moment of magic to avoid what looked like yet more points dropped against lowly teams. Beating Pisa 2-1 and getting the three points what mattered most but the game felt like a case of Allegri and Milan not learning past lessons. The so called dull, defensive tactics that are now attached to Allegri’s name are of course not really needed against teams that are markedly less talented than Milan.

Como present a different challenge. The team is riding high or perhaps overachieving under rich ownership and Cesc Fabregas. The team fell to Milan just last month but outplayed Milan for long periods of the match.

Milan is mostly healthy now or at least almost all players are available if not 100% fit. Gimenez remains out but Saelemaekers is back in training. It remains to be seen if Athekame retains his spot, the Swiss player provided a cross assist for Loftus-Cheeks’ opener at Pisa. Rabiot who somehow managed to receive a second yellow at Pisa will miss this match. It is like that Fofana and Ricci get starts. Modric is defying age and should be a starter. Bartesaghi at left midfield is pretty much set. Up front Leao and Pulisic seem well below 100% fit but could be ready for this match. Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku and Fullkrug provide cover. Maignan, Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic are likely to be preferred if ready and healthy.

Refereeing controversy was in full force not only in Tuscany but in Inter’s 3-2 win over Juventus at the San Siro. Pierre Kalulu was sent off after receiving a second yellow that has been near universally judged as an error. Alessandro Bastoni was derided for simulation in the same incident where Kalulu made minimum of contacts with the Italian defender. Refereeing and VAR continue to be sources of contention.

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Ten days before this match Milan handled Bologna relatively easily and won 3-0. As the schedule would have it, partially due to the aborted Como match first scheduled to be played in Australia, the players have had more than a week to recuperate and train. This is going to be a second vs second last match and as always this guarantees nothing as far as Milan is concerned.

The injury list still includes Gimenez who has apparently targeted a mid March return after his ankle injury and surgery. Saelemaekers is still struggling with an adductor problem but Pulisic has returned to full training. This means a similar lineup as the Bologna game is to be expected. Nkunku and Leao should remain the starters as Pulisic may not be risked from the first minute. Athekame is the Saelemaekers deputy. Fofana, Modric, Rabiot and Bartesaghi are the favorites for the midfield. The back three should remain the familiar Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic trio with Maignan in goal.

Latest word is that Tomori and Pulisic are next on the extension agenda, both carry a 2027 expiring contract so it is perhaps time to do so. Bartesaghi, on the other hand, is due to be rewarded with an improved contract even though he extended – until 2030 – only last spring.

Pisa sit 19th and only with only Verona below them. Oscar Hiljemark is the I Nerazzurri’s new coach, taking charge just over a week ago. Kudos to Pisa for taking a chance on a new name.

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