The 2011–12 season was Associazione Calcio Milan's 78th season in Serie A, and their 29th consecutive season in the top-flight of Italian football. Milan were the defending Serie A champions, and they were aiming for a second straight title. Despite a slow start, they had been able to build up a four-point lead in the table over Juventus by 11 March. In the last nine games of the season, however, Milan picked up only five wins, with two draws and two losses, allowing Juventus, who instead recorded ten wins and one draw over their last 11, to regain the lead and win the title by four points.

As the previous year's Serie A champions, Milan began their season contesting the Supercoppa Italiana against Coppa Italia holders Internazionale, winning the match 2–1. The Rossoneri also competed in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by Barcelona, and took part in the Coppa Italia as well, being knocked out in the semi-finals against Juventus.

Milan began their pre-season training at Milanello on Tuesday, 12 July 2011. The following week, on 20 July, they contested the first friendly, an away match against neighboring side Solbiatese Arno. The Rossoneri easily won with a score of 12–0.

As part of the Audi Cup, Milan then played two friendlies against Bayern Munich and Internacional at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 26 and 27 July, respectively. The first game finished 1–1. Zlatan Ibrahimović opened the scoring only for Toni Kroos to equalise late in the first half. Milan subsequently lost 5–3 on penalties, with Alberto Paloschi committing the only, and eventually deciding, error. The second game was a 2–2 draw. Ibrahimović once again opened the scoring, before Leandro Damião equalised in the 20th minute, and then Milan took a new lead through Alexandre Pato in the 60th minute only for Andrés D'Alessandro to tie the game ten minutes from time. The Rossoneri were defeated 2–0 on penalties, being unable to convert any of their four attempts.

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