milan vs como: Allegri reiterates Champions League priority before San Siro exam
AC Milan welcome Como to the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday, February 18, with kickoff set for 2: 45 PM ET in a fixture that carries more than three points. Coach Massimiliano Allegri has underlined that securing a top-four finish remains the Rossoneri's primary objective, even as the team chases an extended unbeaten run and a realistic shot at climbing the table.
Form, standings and what's at stake
Milan arrive in strong form: an ongoing 23-match unbeaten streak in Serie A (15 wins and 8 draws) has steadied the club's season and left them second in the table with 53 points. A win in this long-awaited rescheduled match would draw them within five points of the leader, who have opened a gap at the top this term. Como sit seventh on 41 points, a position that puts them within striking distance of European qualification if they can upset the hosts at San Siro.
The margins are fine. Milan have scored 40 goals and conceded 18 in the league, while Como have been nearly as productive offensively with 38 goals and 18 conceded. Home and away splits underline the challenge: Milan's record at the Giuseppe Meazza reads seven wins, three draws and one defeat, while Como have collected five wins, three draws and three losses on the road.
Allegri's message: secure Champions League first
Allegri has been plain about the hierarchy of aims this season. "We're doing things well. The clear favorites for the title were the leader and another top side, and that remains the case, " he said, urging calm with 13 league rounds to play. "There are many matches left. Juve, Napoli, Roma, Como. We have to stay calm. When we are in the Champions League, then we will think about the title. "
The coach warned against expending energy on external narratives and insisted the team should keep its focus tight. He described the job as one of steady accumulation of results: performances will vary, he noted, but the priority is to convert those performances into points and lock in European football before entertaining loftier ambitions.
How Como complicates the picture
Como are no mere cannon fodder. Their recent run includes encouraging displays under a high-profile coach, and Allegri was full of praise for their work, highlighting that they are very much in the race for continental places. The teams met last month, with Milan claiming a 3-1 victory away despite Como controlling much of the game; that previous encounter showed Como are capable of dominating play even if results have not always gone their way.
For Como, an upset at San Siro would lift them into genuine contention for a European spot and would underline the progress the club has made this season. For Milan, the match represents a test of temperament: maintaining the unbeaten run and securing three points without burning unnecessary energy will be essential as the schedule tightens.
With 13 rounds remaining in Serie A, every fixture matters. Milan's immediate calculus is clear: guarantee Champions League qualification first, then reassess title chances. The showdown at Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday will be an early litmus test for how well they can execute that plan under pressure.
