Coppa Italia: Milan vs. Bari – Confirmed line-ups and updates | OneFootball

Milan will be led by an attacking pairing of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao for Massimiliano Allegri’s first competitive match back in charge of the Rossoneri, who are taking on Bari in the first round of the Coppa Italia first round on Sunday evening.

Kick-off is due at 20.15 BST.

Milan’s 2025-26 season officially gets underway on Sunday evening with the first round of the Coppa Italia, which comes one week ahead of the team’s first Serie A match of the campaign, which will fall against newly-promoted Cremonese on Saturday.

DUBLIN, IRELAND – AUGUST 09: Massimiliano Allegrireacts during the pre-season friendly match against Leeds United at Aviva Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Two new signings have been included in the Milan starting line-up for the Bari clash: Italy international Samuele Ricci in midfield and former Brighton & Hove Albion defender Pervis Estupinan at left wing-back.

Fellow new recruits Luka Modric and Ardon Jashari start among the substitutes, with Youssof Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek chosen to start alongside Ricci in midfield instead.

HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 26: Samuele Ricci looks on during the Liverpool FC v AC Milan Pre-Season Friendly match at Kai Tak Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

There is also space for returning loanee Alexis Saelemaekers. The Belgian, who spent the 2024-25 season on loan with Bologna, starts on the opposite flank to Estupinan.

Allegri, whose only natural centre-forward is Santiago Gimenez, has instead decided to go with a front two of Leao and Pulisic, two of Milan’s three leading goalscorers in 2024-25.

Milan vs. Bari: Confirmed line-ups

epa12087735 Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring the 2-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match against Bologna FC 1909, in San Siro, Italy, 09 May 2025. EPA-EFE/Daniel Dal Zennaro

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.