When you look at the AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline, you see something special. It is not your typical heated football rivalry. It is more like a long chapter in Italian football’s story — one that has giant versus underdog moments, surprising results, and decades of history woven together. From the late 1920s all the way to 2025, these two clubs have crossed paths many times across Serie A, Serie B, and the Coppa Italia. Understanding this timeline gives you a real feel for how Italian football has grown and changed over the years.
Let’s walk through it all — era by era.
The Two Clubs: Who Are They?
Before diving into the matches, it helps to understand who these clubs are and where they come from.
AC Milan was founded in 1899 and is based in Milan, in northern Italy. They are one of the most successful clubs in world football, with multiple Serie A titles, Coppa Italia wins, and seven European Cup/Champions League trophies. The club has been home to some of football’s greatest names — Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Kaká, and Zlatan Ibrahimović, to name just a few. Milan’s home ground, the San Siro, is one of the most famous stadiums in the world.
SSC Bari was founded in 1908 and comes from Bari, a port city in the south of Italy in the region of Puglia. Bari has always lived in a different world from the glamour of Milan. The club has bounced between Serie A and Serie B over the years, never quite reaching the heights of Italy’s elite clubs. But they have a deeply loyal fanbase and a history of giving bigger clubs trouble, especially at home.
These two clubs represent two different Italys — the industrial, wealthy north and the passionate, working-class south. That contrast makes every match between them more than just football.
The 1920s and 1930s: Where It All Began
The AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline officially starts on October 31, 1928. That day, AC Milan hosted Bari in the Divisione Nazionale — Italy’s top league at the time — and won 5–1. It was a dominant opening statement from the northern giants.
The return fixture in March 1929 told a different story, ending 2–2. Even in that very first season, Bari showed they were not about to simply roll over.
Through the 1930s, the two clubs met several more times. Results leaned toward Milan, but Bari often made things difficult, especially at home. Draws were common when Bari played on their own ground, hinting at what would become a long-running theme: Bari at home is always a tough assignment.
The 1940s–1960s: Post-War Football and Milan’s Growing Power
World War II disrupted Italian football badly. League schedules were suspended, and many clubs struggled financially and operationally. Once regular football resumed, both clubs had to rebuild.
During the late 1940s and through the 1950s, AC Milan were becoming a powerhouse. One of the most remarkable results in this period came in 1949, when Milan won 9–1 — the biggest margin of victory in the entire history of their head-to-head meetings. Striker Gunnar Nordahl was among those who starred in that era.
Through the 1950s and into the 1960s, early experiences were largely dominated by AC Milan, although Bari sometimes put up strong displays at home. The gap in quality between the clubs was growing, but Bari’s home record kept a sense of competition alive in the fixtures.
The 1970s: Tactical Football and a Famous Bari Win
The 1970s saw Italian football shift toward defensive structure and counter-attacking play. This era shaped how many clubs approached big matches, and it produced some interesting results in the AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline.
In the 1971–72 season, Bari managed a historic 1–0 victory against Milan, celebrated by their supporters as one of the most significant wins of the decade. The goal came late from a counter-attack, showing Bari’s growing tactical awareness.
Milan still dominated in most fixtures during this decade, with wins like 4–1 in 1974 and 3–0 in 1976. But those rare Bari victories made the timeline far more interesting. By 1979, another notable match ended in a draw, with Bari’s defensive organization frustrating Milan’s attack — a theme that would repeat in later decades.
The 1980s: Milan’s Revolution and Bari’s Grit
The 1980s were a transformational decade for AC Milan. Under new owner Silvio Berlusconi and legendary manager Arrigo Sacchi, Milan became one of the most innovative and dominant clubs in European history. Their high-pressing, zonal-marking system changed football as a whole.
During this era, Milan had Van Basten, Gullit, and Rijkaard in their squad. Facing that team was intimidating for anyone, let alone a club that moved between the top two divisions like Bari did.
The 1980s and 1990s featured more competitive matches overall, with Bari winning notable games against Milan. Despite the talent gap, Bari played with belief and physicality. They never made it easy, and that was something even Milan fans had to respect. The late 1980s were particularly important because of Milan’s tactical sophistication, which showed clearly in the 1990 4–0 win, where organization overwhelmed the opposition.
The 1990s: Drama, Upsets, and Eight-Goal Thrillers
If you want the most dramatic chapter of the AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline, look no further than the 1990s.
The 1990s featured some of the most emotionally charged and competitive matches in the timeline. On February 6, 1991, in the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final first leg, SSC Bari beat AC Milan 1–0. That result sent shockwaves through Italian football. Beating Milan in a cup knockout game was no small feat.
The decade also delivered one of the wildest matches ever between these two clubs. The 5–3 Bari victory in 1995 stands out as one of the wildest matches in the rivalry’s history. Eight goals, end-to-end chaos. It was the kind of game where defending took a back seat and pure attacking instinct took over.
Bari did not have the global stars that Milan possessed, but in moments like these, they showed that spirit and sharp finishing could beat anyone on a given day.
The 2000s: Milan at Their Peak, Bari Struggling
The new millennium saw Milan reach even greater heights. Champions League glory in 2003 and 2007, Serie A dominance, and a squad that included Kaká, Andriy Shevchenko, and Andrea Pirlo made them one of the best clubs in the world.
In the early 2000s, Milan’s superiority was evident. These were comprehensive wins. Milan’s squad depth and tactical clarity were simply too strong. Bari, meanwhile, struggled with consistency and financial limitations.
The gap between elite Serie A clubs and smaller sides like Bari was growing. Meetings became less frequent as Bari often found themselves outside the top flight, unable to compete financially with the big clubs.
The 2010s: Bari’s Last Stand in the Top Flight
By the time the 2010s arrived, Bari had some memorable final moments in Serie A before relegation issues took hold.
The 3–2 win for Bari in 2010 was particularly memorable. It showed that even in the modern tactical era, passion and execution still matter more than brand value. Bari supporters celebrated that win as proof that their club could still compete when the stars aligned.
On January 20, 2011, AC Milan defeated Bari 3–0 in the Coppa Italia Round of 16. It was one of the final high-profile meetings between the two clubs before Bari dropped out of Serie A and found themselves navigating the lower divisions.
2025: The Most Recent Chapter
The AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline added a fresh entry in August 2025. The two clubs met in the 2025–26 Coppa Italia first round. Milan won 2–0 at home on August 17, 2025, with goals from Leão in the 14th minute and Pulisic in the 48th. Leão picked up an injury but Milan controlled the game throughout, showing the gap between the clubs still exists in the modern era.
Head-to-Head Stats: The Numbers Tell the Story
The overall numbers in the AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline make clear who the dominant side has been. Across 77 matches, AC Milan has 51 wins, SSC Bari 13 wins, and 13 draws. Milan scored over 182 goals, Bari 64. In Serie A alone, across approximately 69 games, Milan won 46, Bari 13, with 10 draws.
Those stats reflect a significant gap. But the 13 Bari wins and 13 draws matter just as much as Milan’s dominance. They are the moments that Bari fans will always remember — the upsets, the shock results, the days when the underdog stood tall.
Key Players Who Defined This Fixture
No timeline is complete without the people who made it memorable.
For AC Milan, the legends who featured in these fixtures include Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Kaká, Andriy Shevchenko, Christian Pulisic, and Rafael Leão. Each brought their own quality to matches against Bari across different eras.
For SSC Bari, names like Antonio Cassano — a Bari-born player who went on to greater fame — Igor Protti, Goran Pandev, and Leonardo Bonucci in his early years showed what the club was capable of producing. These were players who proved that Bari, even without the budget of Milan, had genuine footballing talent.
What This Rivalry Means for Italian Football
The AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline is not just a list of scores. It reflects something bigger about Italian football culture — the contrast between north and south, the rich and the ambitious, the globally famous and the locally beloved.
Every time Bari won against Milan, it was more than three points. It was a statement. It was Puglia punching above its weight. And every time Milan dominated, it was a reminder of just how far the top clubs have pulled ahead of the rest.
The fixtures also chart the history of Italian football tactics — from the raw, physical play of the 1920s and 30s to Sacchi’s pressing revolution in the 1980s to the data-driven modern game of today. Looking at these matches across the decades is like watching football itself grow up.
FAQ: AC Milan vs SSC Bari Timeline
Q: When did AC Milan and SSC Bari first play each other? Their first recorded competitive match took place on October 31, 1928, in the Divisione Nazionale. AC Milan won 5–1 at home.
Q: How many times have AC Milan and SSC Bari met in total? The two clubs have met 77 times across all competitions, including Serie A, Serie B, and the Coppa Italia.
Q: What is the overall head-to-head record? AC Milan leads with 51 wins. SSC Bari has won 13 times, and 13 matches have ended in draws.
Q: What was the biggest win in the AC Milan vs SSC Bari timeline? AC Milan’s biggest win was 9–1 in 1949, the most one-sided result in the history of their meetings.
Q: Has Bari ever beaten Milan in a cup competition? Yes. A memorable occasion came on February 6, 1991, when Bari beat Milan 1–0 in the first leg of the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final.
Q: When was the last time they played each other? The most recent meeting was on August 17, 2025, in the Coppa Italia first round. AC Milan won 2–0, with goals from Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic.
Q: Is this considered a proper rivalry? Not in the traditional sense. It is not as intense as Milan vs Inter or Juventus vs Napoli. But the fixtures carry historical weight, regional pride, and occasional surprises that make them meaningful for fans of both clubs.
