Allegri: ‘Milan must be realistic, Pulisic hasn’t forgotten how to score’ | OneFootball

Max Allegri assures Christian Pulisic ‘hasn’t forgotten how to score goals’ for Milan and warns they ‘need to be realistic’ in the Scudetto race even if they beat Inter.

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: General view outside the stadium prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Not only is this a Derby della Madonnina and bitter local rivalry, it’s also a decisive crossroads in the Scudetto race, because anything less than a victory for the Rossoneri today would make it a huge ask to claw back the gap at the top of the table.

Allegri not fooled by Inter difficulties

BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 03: Massimiliano Allegri head coach of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and AC Milan at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 03, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Inter are forced to do without both first choice strikers, as Marcus Thuram has flu and Lautaro Martinez is injured, so does anything change for Milan in their approach to facing Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny?

“Nothing changes, as Esposito and Bonny are both very good players,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.

“It is a difficult match, Inter are an excellent team, as you can see from their position in the table, and we’ll see if we are able to put in a good performance, and above all to get a result.”

Alexandre Pato is in the stands as a guest of the Milan squad, saluted by Allegri before kick-off, with memories of his goal early into a Derby della Madonnina.

“We will try to start strong and that we get what happened in 2011, it would be auspicious. Having said that, we need to be realistic and look at the ultimate objective. The season doesn’t end here, it would be good to get a marvellous result this evening though,” continued Allegri.

Pulisic has not found the net since the 3-0 win over Hellas Verona on December 12, but the USMNT star returns to the starting XI today.

“I think his condition is improving and he will be very important for us in the final months of the season. It’s not as if he has forgotten how to score goals, he had an injury from pre-season, he had a few more setbacks, but is working on finding his best form,” concluded Allegri.