AC Milan’s victory over Bologna, a clear and convincing 3–0 win over Italiano’s side at the Dall’Ara, marked an important early turning point in the season. The Rossoneri kept the same distance from league leaders Inter and extended their lead over fifth place to +7. Moreover, this match more or less wrapped up the first part of Milan’s 2026 campaign, as this weekend’s scheduled game was postponed due to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. The coming month will be crucial for many reasons, and it will be essential not to underestimate the fixture list.
In a week’s time, Milan will travel to face Pisa on Friday, February 13 at 8:45 p.m.: this is the Rossoneri’s next scheduled match. It will kick off the stretch that will ultimately lead them to the Derby against Inter on the weekend of March 8, effectively one month from now. In between, however, there will be several games that cannot be taken lightly, something that’s almost guaranteed with Massimiliano Allegri on the bench. In the four matches leading up to the clash with the Nerazzurri, the Diavolo will face three teams they failed to beat in the first half of the season. The first will be Pisa (2–2 in the reverse fixture at San Siro), with the Tuscan side led by new coach Hiljemark in only his second match in charge (following his debut this evening). The second match, on Wednesday, February 18 at 8:45 PM, will be against the only team Milan actually defeated, Como (1–3 away at the Sinigaglia). Everyone remembers how that game unfolded, and the controversy that followed in the days after. In the third match, the Diavolo will host Parma (2–2 in the first meeting at the Tardini) on Sunday the 22nd at 6 p.m.; finally, on March 1, the Rossoneri will visit Cremonese (1–2 at San Siro in the reverse fixture), the only team to have beaten Milan in the league this season, as pointed out via Milan News.
Why it matters:
So why is this next month so important? Beyond the obvious fact that every match is crucial, these next four games won’t just lead up to the Derby, they will carry the season into March, which Allegri has indicated from the start as the time to take stock of the standings. That’s why coming out of February with as many points as possible will be vital for Milan’s Champions League ambitions, especially given their lack of European commitments: Inter, Juventus, and later Roma will all be involved in continental competitions and will have to manage their energy. If Milan can maintain a high level of performance from now until March 1, then the Derby could take on some truly intriguing significance. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
