Allegri and Conte are titans of this league. They have won 23 major trophies between them, including 11 Serie A titles, and have become emblems of ambitious eras at their respective clubs.
It is a different story for Allegri, who returned to the Rossoneri after a year out of the game in the summer to pick up the pieces following a disastrous campaign where Milan failed to qualify for Europe after finishing eighth.
The renewal of one of Italian football’s most iconic coaching rivalries has already been dubbed a “duel between stars” and a “battle of the number ones” in the Friday papers in Italy.
However, the game of the week features a duel between two of the game’s greatest brains on the pitch, as well as off it: Luka Modric and Kevin De Bruyne.
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Modric won’t settle for mediocrity
The arrival of two of the game’s greatest midfielders in Serie A created an immediate buzz regardless of their advancing years, with Modric recently hitting 40 and De Bruyne already 34.
Age, in fact, is something the Ballon d’Or-winning former Real Madrid star is eager to gloss over. “I hope people will not remind me of my age any more,” he said after scoring a superb winner over Bologna two weeks ago – his first goal in Rossoneri colours.
It was a moment that underlined that age is just a number, after all. Modric’s form so far in Italy has more than lived up to the hype, with the Croatian providing a goal and an assist in his four league appearances so far, helping steer Allegri’s side towards the top of the table with three wins in a row ahead of the visit of Napoli.
Modric’s performances backed up a strong opening statement on arrival that “Milan can’t be satisfied with mediocrity”.
“They need to have the biggest goals possible, to win titles, to compete with the best teams in the world. That’s why I’m here,” he added.
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‘Class has no age’
The same can be said for fellow legend De Bruyne, who made an instant impact in Naples with two goals in four games after a euphoric reception to his arrival from Manchester City.
Fans flooded to his medical, then he was given Diego Maradona’s No. 10 shirt to train in during pre-season before being hailed as a “genius” by Conte and a “phenomenon” by Arrigo Sacchi.
Their midfield battle will be the most anticipated and keenly analysed of all the duels on the pitch at San Siro, where former Italy manager Cesare Prandelli expects both to shine.
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“They have technique and vision that make you fall in love with football. Champions decide games and Modric and De Bruyne have done that and will continue to do that.”
There is a lot on the line in Milan. Napoli sit top of the table as the only side in the league to have started with a perfect record of four wins from four, but Milan would draw level with them if they take the three points.
With Christian Pulisic in fine form, Christopher Nkunku scoring his first Milan goal in spectacular style in a midweek cup win and Rafael Leao finally fit enough to make the bench, Allegri and Modric have a strong attacking arsenal to lean on.
We may only be four games into the new campaign, but this already feels big. With two passionate behemoths of Italian coaching on the sidelines and two of the coolest heads in the game in midfield, a sizzling spectacle is guaranteed.
