Preview:AC Milan vs Cremonese - prediction, team news, lineups

Following a forgettable year scarred by inconsistency and division, fallen giants AC Milan will welcome Cremonese to San Siro for their Serie A opener on Saturday.

Aiming to regain their place in Italy's top four this season, Milan are back under a former manager, while their local rivals will hope hiring a proven survival specialist can keep them afloat.

Match preview

Though they still lifted the Supercoppa Italiana and reached the Coppa Italia final, Milan were well below their best in 2024-25 and are now keen to look to the future.

By the end of a chaotic campaign, the Rossoneri's hierarchy had sacked two Portuguese coaches - first Paulo Fonseca, then Sergio Conceicao - after finishing only eighth in the final Serie A standings.

Soon after winning the Supercoppa in spectacular style at the very start of 2025, they were turfed out of the Champions League by Feyenoord before effectively downing tools in the league and limply losing the cup final.

So, 2011 Scudetto-winning boss Massimiliano Allegri was brought back into the dugout, with Real Madrid legend Luka Modric arriving to exert his influence on the pitch.

After Far East friendlies against Liverpool and Arsenal - followed by a 9-0 hammering of Perth Glory - Milan finished off their pre-season schedule with another Premier League double-header, drawing with Leeds United before losing to Chelsea.

Following a frantic summer in the transfer market, the first competitive game of Allegri's second spell then came in the cup, as last year's runners-up had failed to finish high enough in Serie A to earn a bye past round one.

Setting off on their latest attempt to win a sixth Coppa - and their first since 2003 - Milan beat Bari last week, thanks to goals from makeshift front pair Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic. However, it will take much more progress to win over an increasingly disgruntled fanbase.

Though Cremonese managed a pair of draws with Milan when they were last in Serie A, back in 2022-23, they have taken just one point from eight away games against their Lombardy neighbours to date.

Furthermore, the Grigiorossi have always lost on the opening matchday of a top-flight campaign, tallying eight straights defeats so far.

Before making their latest return to Italy's elite level, Cremo were also in Coppa Italia action last week, making an early exit on penalties against Palermo.

Promoted through the Serie B playoffs last term - one year after losing in the final to Venezia - they booked their ticket back to the big time at their second attempt, beating Spezia in June.

After a goalless first leg, Cremonese raced into a three-goal lead away from home, before conceding twice late on made for a nervy finish - nonetheless, they ran out 3-2 winners on aggregate.

Even so, the club board still switched head coach, and Giovanni Stroppa's departure paved the way for Davide Nicola's arrival at Stadio Zini.

Having followed up several rescue acts by ensuring Cagliari's safety last season, Nicola may now have his toughest task ahead of him.

AC Milan form (all competitions): W

Cremonese form (all competitions): L

Team News

Amid a summer of sweeping change - which may not be done just yet - Milan's numerous new arrivals will all come under consideration this weekend.

Last term's Belgian Pro League 'Player of the Season' Ardon Jashari, Pervis Estupinan and Samuele Ricci had all joined Luka Modric at the club before defensive duo Koni De Winter and Zachary Athekame recently agreed terms.

Key men Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez have left, along with centre-back Malick Thiaw and several forwards: Alvaro Morata, Luka Jovic and loanee Tammy Abraham have already departed, while Noah Okafor is bound for Leeds United.

So, with Rafael Leao absent through injury, Max Allegri may ask Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic to lead his attack. Since signing for Milan in 2023, the latter has racked up 33 goals and 20 assists from a century of appearances across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Cremonese have just acquired experienced striker Antonio Sanabria, but Jari Vandeputte is perhaps their most important forward: throughout Europe's top five leagues and their respective second tiers, only Mohamed Salah can match his tally of 28 assists since the start of 2023-24.

Milan loanees Filippo Terracciano and Warren Bondo could both make a quick return to San Siro, but Mattia Valoti, Franco Vazquez and Tommaso Barbieri are all suspended.

AC Milan possible starting lineup: Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Fofana, Estupinan; Pulisic, Gimenez

Cremonese possible starting lineup: Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Zerbin, Grassi, Bondo, Vandeputte, Pezzella; Sanabria, De Luca

We say: AC Milan 2-0 Cremonese

Milan have won four of their last five Serie A opening fixtures, and they will surely continue in that vein on Saturday.

At home to opponents only promoted through the playoffs, Max Allegri's men should have more than enough nous and top-tier experience to get the job done.

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