WATCH Serie A LIVE on beIN SPORTS | Sign up to take advantage of our 7-day FREE TRIAL here | AU | NZ

Playing in its first match in the top flight since 2022-2023, Bonazzoli's acrobatic effort just after the hour proved the difference to pile more misery on the Rossoneri.

After a disappointing campaign last season that saw Milan miss out on European football, the pressure was on for new boss Massimiliano Allegri to deliver instantly.

Milan started positively when Santiago Giminez raced onto Luka Modric's brilliant pass before tucking the ball home, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the 20th minute.

However, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was stunned into silence eight minutes later as Federico Baschirotto brilliantly headed Alessio Zerbin's cross beyond Mike Maignan.

Milan restored parity in first-half stoppage-time after Pervis Estupinan's delicate cross to the back post was met by a powerful header by on-rushing full-back Strahinja Pavlovic.

The hosts continued to push after the break, with visiting goalkeeper Emil Audero producing two excellent stops in quick succession to deny Modric and Youssouf Fofana.

However, Cremonese sealed the win through a moment of brilliance, with Bonazzoli connecting with Giuseppe Pezzella's delivery superbly to clinch all three points.

Allegri was quick to point fingers at his defence, but he remained confident that he could turn his backline's form around quickly.

"If we look at the performance, we had eight shots on goal, but the difference is made by the determination with which you attack and defend," Allegri said.

"We conceded two avoidable goals that we could've prevented with a little more concentration. Fortunately, it is only the first round, and we have time to work on these details.

"But we must all prepare in a certain way, because we cannot keep conceding such soft goals."

Allegri named two new faces in Milan's starting line-up, with Pervis Estupinan, who assisted Pavlovic's equaliser, and Modric both making their Serie A bows.

Ardon Jashari was introduced into the action in the 74th minute, while Samuele Ricci was an unused substitute at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. 

Koni De Winter and Zachary Athekame are two other notable arrivals for Milan, though they also both watched on from the bench. 

"I don't think it was an issue of a player missing or not," Allegri added on whether he needed more signings before the transfer window shuts.

"When you play in Serie A, you meet tough opponents like Cremonese, who fully deserved the victory by playing a smart defensive match, and we made two errors.

"It's not about the squad, it's about having a little more determination, both on and off the ball."

After a disappointing campaign last season that saw Milan miss out on European football, the pressure is on Allegri to deliver instantly. 

"Regardless of what happened last season, we need to turn the negatives into positives," he concluded.

"Lecce are a good team for next week and always tough. We must be prepared to play rough games.

"If we only want to play pretty, we'll risk drawing or losing against anyone, the way we did tonight."