Is Allegri’s Pragmatic Style Enough for a Serie A Title Challenge for AC Milan?

A look at whether Allegri’s low-possession AC Milan tactics can win Serie A.

After last season’s disappointing 8th-place league finish, AC Milan brought back Massimiliano Allegri in the summer, hoping experience would steady the ship.

So far, the results have been encouraging. Milan sit second in Serie A and are unbeaten since the opening weekend, with a statement derby win over Inter extending their positive run.

AC Milan Results

A quick scan through their early-season form reveals a familiar Allegri pattern. Milan have beaten every other side currently in the top five, which should make them runaway leaders… except they’re not.

Instead, it’s their draws against Parma and Pisa, as well as the opening-day loss to Cremonese, that have been more damaging than stalemates with Juventus or Atalanta.

Serie A Results

• 1-2 L vs Cremonese (H)
• 0-2 W vs Lecce (A)
• 1-0 W vs Bologna (H)
• 0-3 W vs Udinese (A)
• 2-1 W vs Napoli (H)
• 0-0 D vs Juventus (A)
• 2-1 W vs Fiorentina (H)
• 2-2 D vs Pisa (H)
• 1-1 D vs Atalanta (A)
• 1-0 W vs Roma (H)
• 2-2 D vs Parma (A)
• 0-1 W vs Inter (A)

AC Milan Tactics

Allegri’s blueprint hasn’t changed. Milan are often happy to not have the ball, aiming to limit chaos rather than dominate through possession. Even before scoring, they hovered around 40% possession against Roma and Inter. Matches against Napoli and Atalanta featured early goals that shaped the tempo, while the Juventus clash stayed cagey as expected.

This approach works best when Milan score first – which they have in 10 of their 12 league games. But sustaining that kind of efficiency is difficult, especially when some openers have come against the flow of play. Their winner in the derby came despite being heavily outshot beforehand.

Milan’s strength is in transition. Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic thrive when running into space, especially when supplied by Luka Modric. Their underlying numbers show they aren’t massively overperforming their xG, meaning the threat is real and not luck-driven.

However, in slower, possession-heavy phases, Milan lack that bit of punch. With Santiago Gimenez injured – their only natural striker – and no real Plan B up front, breaking down low blocks has become a clear weakness.

AC Milan Defensive Numbers

Allegri’s priority when he returned to Milan was making them harder to score against. And… well… he kind of has? Sort of?

Milan concede fewer big chances than last season, but the numbers still put them closer to mid-table (10th for xGA) than a team chasing the Scudetto. The low block is good, not great.

What is keeping them competitive is the heroics of certain players. Allegri teams often lean on individual brilliance in attack, but Milan are now depending on it at both ends.

And yes, while the attack is heavily funnelled through a 40-year-old midfield wizard, their most productive finisher is none other than Pulisic.

Can AC Milan Win Serie A?

Despite some clear structural issues, Milan rank second in Serie A for xG, trailing only Inter. Getting Gimenez and Ardon Jashari back should help distribute attacking responsibilities and reduce reliance on a handful of players.

Besides, Serie A’s leading pack is… fine. Inter are the best team, numbers-wise, but they have an ageing squad and are juggling all competitions again. Milan are not. Everything is domestic. Everything is simpler. This is how Allegri likes it.

So yeah, if fitness holds, Milan definitely remain in the title conversation, in what is shaping up to be unusually open.

The next couple of months are huge. They face mostly mid-table or lower-table sides – exactly the sort of teams Allegri’s Milan have struggled to break down.

Normally, this Rossoneri side would be a level or two short of being true title contenders. But if they can avoid dropping silly points, keep pace with Inter, and survive until the late-January trip to Roma, then suddenly the dream of a 20th league title doesn’t look like a dream at all. Allegri’s disciplined, grind-through-results style might just be enough.