Ac Milan vs Cremonese

 Here’s a striking match photo capturing the intensity of AC Milan’s clash with Cremonese—power, pressure, and the drama of a Serie A opening-day upset.

Match Report: AC Milan 1–2 Cremonese – A Stunned San Siro in Serie A Opening

San Siro, August 23, 2025 — AC Milan, back under the guidance of Massimiliano Allegri and buoyed by the arrival of veteran Luka Modrić, stepped onto the hallowed turf of San Siro with expectations of a fast-starting campaign. Instead, they were met with a sobering dose of Serie A realities—defensive frailties, missed chances, and Cremonese’s ruthless brilliance combined to hand the visitors a dream 2–1 victory. In a display balancing heartbreak and class, Milan’s season began with a jolt.

** First Half: A Rocky Start and Disallowed Hope**

The match’s psychological undertones were laid bare early when Santiago Giménez appeared to tap home a brilliant opener, capitalizing on a lofted Modrić pass. A celebratory roar rippled across San Siro—but VAR had other ideas. The offside flag stripped the moment of life, leaving both players and fans stunned. 

Cremonese, far from retreating, sensed opportunity. Their probing born out from Milan’s nerves and lapses in defensive cohesion. In the 28th minute, Milan’s alertness deserted them from a corner. Alessio Zerbin’s cross spun into the middle, and Federico Baschirotto, unattended at the back post, powered a header beyond Mike Maignan into the net. San Siro fell silent as the visitors took the lead. 

Days of preparation, Modrić’s return, Allegri’s plans—all seemed overshadowed. But as the clock inched towards halftime, a spark emerged. Pervis Estupiñán surged to the byline, lofting a delicate cross that found no resistance—Strahinja Pavlović met it with a thundering header to restore parity. San Siro exhaled in relief as the scoreboard reset to 1–1 just before the break. 

** Second Half: Milan’s Surge—and Cremonese’s Killer Blow**

The second half began with Milan riding the wave of momentum. They poured forward, the crowd sensing a turnaround, only to be repeatedly denied by Emil Audero, Cremonese’s goalkeeper in commanding form. His reflex saves frustrated Modrić, Fofana, and others—keeping the scoresheet level amidst near misses. 

Then, in the 61st minute, Cremonese struck with audacity. A high delivery from Giuseppe Pezzella found Federico Bonazzoli, who met it with an acrobatic overhead kick—stunning in precision and execution—and brilliant enough to silence the stadium. That breathtaking strike flipped the script and delivered Cremonese their first-ever opening-day win in Serie A. 

Milan huffed and puffed in response—control, possession, numbers—but created little. In contrast, Cremonese remained disciplined, defiant, and clinical. As the final whistle echoed, the San Siro faithful were left reeling, their expectations shattered.

** Tactics & Turning Points**

• Defensive lapses cost Milan dearly—failure to clear corners and lapses of concentration were ruthlessly punished.
• Despite controlling possession (24 attempts to Cremonese’s few), Milan lacked incisiveness—xG heavily favored them, but the final ball was absent.  
• Cremonese’s set-piece discipline and Bonazzoli’s brilliance defined the outcome. Their manager’s reshaped system proved both compact and clinical.
• Midfield control proved fleeting. Modrić’s presence added calm, but support was inconsistent, letting Cremonese transition with ease.

** Standout Performers**

Player (Team)	Performance Highlights
Federico Baschirotto (Cremonese)	Poised at defense first, then soared at the front post to head in opener.
Strahinja Pavlović (AC Milan)	Rescued Milan with a powerful header just before halftime.
Emil Audero (Cremonese)	Denied Modrić and Fofana with crucial saves—played a central role in the win.
Federico Bonazzoli (Cremonese)	Delivered a breathtaking overhead kick—a moment of pure genius.
Luka Modrić (AC Milan)	Singled out for control and creativity amid a chaotic match.

** Atmosphere & Emotional Undercurrents**

San Siro buzzed with anticipation before kick-off—Modrić’s return and Allegri’s reappointment had galvanized fans. But the early VAR disallowed goal deflated spirits. As goals slipped away, you could almost hear the anxiety on the terraces.

Still, Milan tried to rally. Pavlović’s equalizer offered hope, but Bonazzoli’s acrobatic winner snuffed that out—leaving the stadium resolutely subdued. Allegri’s expression—a blend of disbelief and urgency—spoke volumes.

For Cremonese, an opening-day statement had just been made. Goal celebrations were restrained but resounding; composure met passion.

** Looking Forward**

• Milan must urgently reassess. Their campaign faces an early challenge: can Allegri coalesce this group and fix defensive chaos? The window is still open—both transfers and tactical changes may be necessary.
• Cremonese, buoyed by belief, face a moment of reckoning. Their squad showed it can compete. The question now: can they build consistency and avoid a slide into early-season complacency?

** Summary**

On a night when pageantry expected to dominate, it was pragmatism and opportunism that stole the show. AC Milan, despite dominance in possession, lacked vitality where it mattered. Cremonese, composed and clever, delivered two moments of real brilliance—Baschirotto’s header and Bonazzoli’s aerial wonder—which were enough to justify their opening-day shock.

As Allegri returns to San Siro with questions pressing, Cremonese return to Lombardy with morale sky-high—proof that in football, the old scripts belong to the naïve.