AC Milan began their 2025-26 season in winning fashion, beating Serie B side Bari in the last 32 of the Coppa Italia at San Siro.
Rafael Leao netted the first goal of the new campaign, heading home emphatically from a Fikayo Tomori cross. He was then forced off with what looked like a calf muscle issue, though some reassuring updates have arrived.
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Christian Pulisic got the second goal early in the second half, combining beautifully with Santiago Gimenez. It was a job well done in front of over 71,000 fans, a brilliant crowd which shows how the excitement is building.
AC Milan vs. Bari: Player ratings
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport has their player ratings from the game, starting with the overall team performance which scored a 6.5 out of 10. The man of the match in their eyes was Pulisic, a constant threat in attack who earned a 7, which Pervis Estupinan (5.5) struggled most.
Alexis Saelemaekers looked very lively on the right flank and got a 7 too. Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rafael Leao and substitute Luka Modric got half a point less.
Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, Samuele Ricci and Santiago Gimenez were given a passing score, while new signing Ardon Jashari (5.5) didn’t quite seem to get into the rhythm.
Corriere dello Sport chose to give 7s to Pulisic, Saelemaekers, Pulisic and Leao. Maignan, Tomori and Loftus-Cheek were praised as well, getting 6.5s. The paper did not give anyone below a 6.
🔢 The player ratings for #MilanBari from @Gazzetta_it and @CorSport.
🤔 Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/pHwKwqW7Q7
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) August 18, 2025
The hate for Estupinan already is so unjustified.
Not expensive enough.
Probably because he’s not good enough
I mean, we keep comparing to prime Theo (because we tend to forget how many games he lost us last season). And i think it is a bit unfair. Have a decent left back is good enough. With Brighton he was great, and many people will agree, our fans are just too impatient. I also thought he played a decent game save for a mistake or too.
I agree, Estupinan just needs time. I wouldn’t say he struggled. He looked better defensively than Theo last season.
He’s just not fast that’s a problem. Theo wasn’t the greatest defender when in comes to defend inwards but nobody, I mean absolutely nobody was able to surpass him on the sideline or even take a cross. But Estupinan has other qualities I just hope they add up
I’m sorry but which Theo are we talking about here? The one season wonder in ’21? Because the Theo after that season couldn’t be bothered to defend or to track back enough to mark his man… He wasn’t even there most of the time when opposition tried to come in from the wing and cross or have a shot on goal.
But I do hope he proves is doubters wrong and performs well
He needs time and will need time. Theo, even on bad days, is a game changer. It’s why coaches still opted to play him. And he was one of the best in the world, so that’s always going to be a hard act to follow
He sure did change games on bad days.
He staged a mutiny (cooling break)
He didn’t track back and gave up goals.
He cost us games.
His bad days came more and more frequently the last two years.
Theo was a world class FB. But by the time he left us he was a liability.
Don’t need to rehash old stuff. I already made my thoughts known on those incidents in his farewell article.
The point was Estupinan focused and the need for him to be allowed time. Because what WILL happen is if he doesn’t perform at the very least defensively well ppl are going to be on his back given the person he’s replacing made up for defensive flaws in the form of good offense
..in theory. But in reality we rarely got that version of him, especially the last season… Rewatch the highlights from last year, it’s pretty sad.
Well, if I recall correctly the last 10 or so games (about a quarter of the season) the ratings around the site were quite decent for him and there was an interesting silence around his performance, basically he was doing quite well after a terrible season up to that point.
Yes he didn’t make his trademark swashbuckling runs but I cut him some slack for doing that for 5 years straight, with no subs.
I dont buy that he’s finished at his peak. With Allegri I think he would have improved defensively and would have had a better season that last. You’ll see those guys from last year and their improvements
In my opinion Pervis deserved higher rating that what they gave him. Apart from that harsh tackle which got him yellow card, he did quite alright. Let’s not forget that is his first competitive match, so is for all new players that got minutes. Defensively he is an upgrade to Theo for sure.
I only saw last 30 min. But our defence let Bari through worryingly easy. They didn’t really create any danger but they got through our lines way too easy. If that continues, we will ger punished.
What a ridiculous rating for Pervis. I watched the game, Estupinan was just fine. No mistakes and was a composed outlet on the left. He saw a lot of the ball and his passing was tight. Whoever did these ratings needs their eyes tested.
And he gave Gimenez a passing grade? this rater has no credibility.