The Rossoneri (with Allegri in the stands due to suspension) advance to the next round with a goal in each half. Bari never looked dangerous, with the Croatian and Jashari coming on in the second half.

The 71,000 at San Siro – a sensational figure – Modric’s debut amid the Meazza’s hosannas, obviously the passage to the next round, but also Leao’s exit after a quarter of an hour due to a calf injury. The Rossoneri world seems unable to break the curse: even on evenings that, for various reasons, start out as ones to enjoy, something often happens to spoil the party. Rafa’s condition will be better understood in the coming days, but in a team where a striker is missing from the squad, losing one – as fundamental as him – a few days before the start of the league leaves an unpleasant feeling. The rest, however, was a celebration, which began before the match with the red carpet on which the new signings appeared, the last of whom was His Majesty Modric in front of a stadium in pure ecstasy. The Bari game was wrapped up without causing any concern for the Rossoneri fans, with a goal in each half from Leao and Pulisic, but in knockout games, what matters is getting through: at the end of September, they will remain in Puglia, with Lecce awaiting the Diavolo in the round of 32. In any case, it was one of those games where the stronger side obviously has everything to lose. Not to mention that while the other big teams can still afford a weekend of friendlies and fine-tuning, the Diavolo cannot. They were paying for their position in last season’s championship. Allegri, who was suspended, watched from above and ultimately came away with a good feeling.

The Rossoneri coach confirmed the impressions he had given in the previous days. That is, confirmation of the tactical setup—a decidedly fluid 3-5-2, as was mostly the case in the friendlies—and the players: Pulisic and Leao in attack, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, and Fofana in midfield. The former Granata player and Estupinan were the only new signings in the starting eleven. Caserta, who still has an incomplete squad, entrusted the attack to Pereiro, Moncini, and Sibilli. It was the Biancorossi number 7 who opened the scoring with a well-executed right-footed shot that flew just inches wide of Maignan’s post. Forty-seven seconds had passed and many Rossoneri fans looked at each other in disbelief, easy prey to the ghosts of the past. As the clock ticked down, it became clear that their pessimism was misplaced. The technical gap between the two teams was clear, a factor that made the match almost entirely one-sided, even though Bari, given what they were allowed, never gave up and organized a move in which Sibilli (super save by Maignan) and Dorval caused anxiety on the right side of the Diavolo. However, there were no other concrete signs of Bari in the first half, and Milan tried, unsuccessfully, to close out the game in the first round.

hybrid formation—  Leao immediately put the game on the road (14′, before giving way to Gimenez three minutes later), then the rest of the production was broken up by Cerofolini’s gloves, slipped a few steps from the post, or crashed off the crossbar (Pulisic). Noteworthy situations in tactical terms: as on several occasions during the preseason, the system was a hybrid between a three- and four-man defense, depending on Tomori’s position and the drop-back of Estupinan and Saelemaekers. These were not random situations; there was work behind them, which also paid off: in this context, Tomori is the third player on the right whom Allegri asks to spread wide and, if necessary, to break away. Leao’s goal came about in this way: Fik pushed forward to the edge of the box and crossed for Rafa’s head. Two firsts in one—definitely not the Portuguese player’s specialty—which we weren’t used to seeing. The midfield also stood out for its intensity, putting fierce pressure on the Biancorossi players. Of course, confirmation will be needed when the opposition is stronger, but both Fofana and Loftus-Cheek – with Ricci covering their backs – kept a high line, breaking away often and willingly. Fofana, for example, had three shots on goal in the first 45 minutes alone. Areas to work on: a few too many mistakes in the final third, especially with the penultimate pass, and an excessive number of crosses from both wings. Not the best solution when you have Leao and Pulisic in the box.

Ovations—  At the start of the second half, Milan achieved what they had been trying so hard to do in the first half. That is, the second goal to extinguish Bari’s ambitions. Credit goes to the award-winning duo of Pulisic and Gimenez, who broke away on the left and created the move that led to the second goal. The next thrill came in the 66th minute: Musah came on, but above all Jashari and Modric. There was an ovation every time they touched the ball and pure enjoyment at the Meazza when he shot, getting rid of Sibili with a double dribble in a small space. To go home satisfied, and for the first time this season, that was enough.