A first league defeat, and a costly one
Milan arrive at the Derby della Madonnina having lost their unbeaten Serie A record in the worst way. They went down 4-2 at home to Bologna in midweek, conceding two goals in two minutes according to [1], and Ruben Amorim’s side have now lost three games in all competitions this season.
The damage went beyond the scoreline. Fikayo Tomori was forced off at half-time, and the club’s reading of the problem is a medial flexor muscle injury in his right thigh. He is expected to be out for about one month, [2]. That rules him out of the derby, the matches against Ferencvaros and Genoa, and likely the games against Frosinone, Olympiacos and Cagliari.
There was also a individual concern in attack. Gonçalo Ramos had no shots, no assists and no chances created from 31 touches against Bologna, [3]. The collective numbers are still healthy, though: Milan have scored 18 goals in nine league games, the fourth-best attack in Serie A behind Inter (25), Roma (23) and Lazio (22).
Who is back for the derby
The injury news is not all bad. Amorim says Mario Gila, Adrien Rabiot and Diego Moreira have returned to group training and are ready to rejoin the squad, [1]. Whether any of them start remains open. The coach said the team will decide on the morning of the match who can begin the game and what the game plan will be.
Earlier reports were more cautious, describing all three only as hoped-for returns. The latest picture is firmer for Rabiot, whose recovery means he [4]. Moreira is described as in contention to start. The winger has three goals and one assist in seven appearances across all competitions this season.
Gila’s return matters most given Tomori’s absence. Any defender who is not fully match-fit will be tested by an Inter attack that has scored 25 league goals. Amorim has a late call to make on how much to rely on players who have only just rejoined the group.
Pulisic extends, Cardinale backs the coach
Off the pitch, Milan have secured one of their key attackers. Christian Pulisic has signed a contract extension through 30 June 2031, [5]. He has two goals and one assist from six Serie A appearances in 2026-27, and said he always wanted to stay, [6].
Owner Gerry Cardinale also weighed in on the club’s direction. He said he stands by Amorim and expects more signings in January, and that recent injuries have frustrated him. Milan need more squad depth, he said, to handle the demands of Amorim’s high-intensity system, [7]. Tomori’s injury, coming only days after that message, illustrates the point.
The context for the derby is also clear in the table. Milan are fifth, seven points behind the leading pair, [8], so defeat would stretch that gap further.
What it means
Milan sit fifth with 18 points from nine games (W5 D3 L1, goals for 18, against 11). The record is solid, but the form is mixed. Before the Bologna defeat they beat Udinese 2-0 away and Atalanta 3-2 at home, and earlier drew 1-1 at Sassuolo. The 11 goals conceded is the weak side of the ledger, and the Bologna game showed how quickly a match can turn.
The next fixture asks the hardest question available: can Milan defend with Tomori missing against the league’s highest-scoring side? The site’s forecast says probably not. It gives Inter a 50.0% chance of winning, Milan 28.0% and a draw 22.0%, with a predicted score of 1-2. The returns of Rabiot, Gila and Moreira are the main reasons the gap is not wider, but none is guaranteed a start.
For Amorim, a result would calm the pressure from the Bologna loss. Another defeat would leave Milan further from the top pair and sharpen the debate over squad depth that Cardinale has already opened.
Sources
- Football Italia: Amorim: Milan Derby more similar to Portugal than England; Rabiot, Gila and Moreira ‘ready’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Milan lose Tomori for one month after injury in 4-2 Bologna defeat football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Gonçalo Ramos’ Milan struggles continue in 4-2 loss vs. Bologna football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Moreira: Hazard ‘an inspiration’, Cristiano Ronaldo ‘my favourite player’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Official: Pulisic signs new long-term Milan contract extension football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Pulisic: ‘I always wanted to renew with Milan, really excited for the next few years’ football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Cardinale: ‘I’ll stand by Amorim’s side’ and buy more players in January football-italia.net ↩
- Football Italia: Marotta: Inter and Milan need new stadium to fill ‘big gap’ with European rivals football-italia.net ↩
