AC Milan will begin their Coppa Italia campaign on Sunday night as they will host Bari at San Siro in the Round of 32.
The Rossoneri will enter the clash without their new head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, on the sidelines.
The Italian tactician is serving a two-match suspension handed down by the disciplinary committee for incidents during the 2024 Coppa Italia final, when he was in charge of Juventus.
Allegri was sent off in that match following heated protests, which included removing his jacket and throwing it onto the pitch — a scene that sparked wide controversy.
As a result, Allegri’s official debut at San Siro will be delayed until Milan’s Serie A opener against Cremonese.
Sunday’s fixture will also carry special significance for the Milan faithful, as the club is set to unveil its summer signings.
Leading the list is Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić, alongside several new additions brought in to strengthen the squad.
Milan, who finished eighth in Serie A last season, were forced to enter the competition at this earlier stage rather than the usual Round of 16. That means they must win twice to secure a place in the last 16.
Should Milan advance past Bari, they will meet Lecce in the next round. Lecce booked their spot with a 2-0 win over Juve Stabia, despite being reduced to ten men in the second half.
That tie could also see the return of Milan’s highly-rated youngster Francesco Camarda, currently on loan, who is expected back at San Siro by the end of September.
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