Sports
Leao and Pulisic set to start for AC Milan, confirms Allegri
Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic could start together for just the second time this season when AC Milan host Genoa.
Leao and Pulisic’s only other start together in 2025-26 came during the Milan derby in November, when the United States international scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Pulisic (a goal every 76 minutes played) and Leao (one every 121 minutes) have the best minutes per goal averages among players with five or more goals in this Serie A campaign.
Since his arrival at Milan (2019-20), Leao (six goals this season) is one of only three players to have scored five or more goals in each of the last seven Serie A seasons, alongside Lautaro Martinez and Riccardo Orsolini.
The Rossoneri are second in the Italian top-flight, one point behind rivals Inter, after they started 2026 with a 1-0 win against Cagliari.
Leao scored the winner on that occasion, and although he is not fully fit, Allegri hopes the winger can start with Pulisic as they look to build their fitness heading into the latter stages of the season.
“Let’s see. They’ve played about 20 minutes together. If everything goes well today and tomorrow morning, they should start,” Allegri confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday.
Another day, another session, same goal
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— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 6, 2026
“They’re not at peak condition. Pulisic has a hamstring problem that is still bothering him from time to time, but everyone has to play a good team game.
“Leao has to think about scoring goals. Forwards are judged on that. He has to score.
“He did score in Cagliari, even if he wasn’t fully fit; this discomfort has been bothering him. He can only improve, given that in the first part of the season, he missed quite a few matches due to calf and adductor problems.
“These months are important to reach March calmly and patiently, in the best possible condition.
“We work every day on the quality of our play to improve passing quality and speed. We’re also trying to keep improving defensively. We want to improve on both phases, with and without the ball.”
Genoa sit just above the relegation zone in 17th, two points clear of 18th-place Verona after their 2-2 draw with Napoli on Wednesday.
They started the calendar year with a 1-1 draw against 20th-place Pisa, ending a three-game losing streak in the competition.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
AC Milan – Adrien Rabiot
Rabiot has provided three assists in Serie A this season, including two in his last two appearances; he has only ever provided more assists in a single Serie A campaign for Juventus in 2022-23 (four).
The Frenchman could contribute to a goal in three consecutive Serie A games for the first time since March a April 2023 (three goals, one assist).
Genoa – Lorenzo Colombo
Colombo played his first five Serie A matches for Milan, while he has already scored one league goal against them (on 18 February 2024 for Monza).
Following his goal against Pisa, he could score in consecutive top-flight appearances for the first time since between November 2022 and January 2023, when playing for Lecce.
MATCH PREDICTION – AC MILAN WIN
Milan have never lost in Serie A in seven matches against Genoa with Allegri in charge (W5 D2); under the current coach, they have only played more league games without defeat against Bologna and Cagliari (eight against both).
After losing their opening Serie A game this season, Milan are unbeaten in their subsequent 16 top-flight matches (W11 D5). They have not had a longer unbeaten run in a single Serie A season since January-May 2004 (19).
And Milan have won three of their last four Serie A home games (W3 D1), keeping a clean sheet in three of those matches.
However, Genoa are unbeaten in two of their last three Serie A matches against Milan (D2), which is as many as they managed in their previous 10 such games against them (W1 D1 L8).
Overall, Genoa have only won one of their last 15 Serie A games against the Rossoneri (W1 D4 L10) – a 2-1 victory at the San Siro on March 8, 2020.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
AC Milan – 64.7%
Draw – 20.5%
Genoa – 14.8%
