Both teams enjoyed 4-1 wins on Wednesday with Juve beating SPAL at home and Milan winning away to Chievo, but there were very different reactions from the two coaches.
Milan's Vincenzo Montella was a happy and relieved man after his big-spending side ended a four-match winless run in the league, lifting some of the pressure off his shoulders after talk that his job was on the line.
"It's a victory that gives us belief and strength," he said. "We had already seen significant improvements in the quality of football over recent games and I am very satisfied with this performance."
There were no such sentiments from Allegri whose side rushed to a 2-0 lead in only 23 minutes but then let SPAL back into the game. The visitors pulled one goal back and had equaliser disallowed before two quickfire goals got Juventus off the hook.
"If we play like that again, we will come away from the match on Saturday beaten and worn out," said Allegri.
"We did really well until it was 2-0 but instead of holding onto the ball, we rushed around without any sense or meaning.
"We got ourselves into a mess, and once that happens it's difficult to get back into the match again. We've taken a step back compared to the previous game. It's a real see-saw."
Former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, who shocked Italian football by moving to Milan in the close season after playing a key role in six successive title-winning campaigns for the Turin side, will miss the game through suspension.
The 30-year-old was sent off for elbowing in last Sunday's 0-0 draw with Genoa and given a two-match ban, the latest unhappy episode in a troubled start at his new club.
Juventus, aiming to win a seventh successive title, go into the match in third on 25 points with eight wins, a draw and a defeat from their 10 matches. Milan, who have already lost four times, are eighth with 16 points.
Allegri said Juve could only fight for the title if the players found the right balance between attack and defence.
"It's great to play nice football and score goals but we still haven't understood that we can't afford to lose our concentration," he said.
"If we want to stay in the battle to win the championship, the lads have to understand that, otherwise we will struggle. I hope this is the last time I have to throw my jacket to the ground in anger."
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Bern; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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