Serie A Regular Season - 18
Cagliari 0 - 1 FT AC Milan
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
R. Leao (A. Rabiot) 50'
60' ↓ A. Obert ↑R. Idrissi
61' ↓ M. Prati ↑G. Borrelli
66' ↓ S. Esposito ↑G. Gaetano
↓ Y. Fofana ↑S. Ricci 69'
↓ R. Leao ↑N. Fullkrug 69'
↓ R. Loftus-Cheek ↑C. Pulisic 79'
↓ P. Estupinan ↑M. Gabbia 79'
83' Riyad Idrissi
83' ↓ L. Mazzitelli ↑N. Cavuoti
83' ↓ S. Kilicsoy ↑L. Pavoletti
90'+1 Marco Palestra
Alexis Saelemaekers 90'+1
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cagliari
Goalkeepers
E. Caprile 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
G. Zappa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Luperto 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
J. Rodriguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
M. Palestra
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Adopo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Prati 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
L. Mazzitelli
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
A. Obert 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Forwards
S. Kilicsoy
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
S. Esposito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
BENCH
G. Ciocci 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
B. Radunovic
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
R. Idrissi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Di Pardo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Pintus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Mina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Gaetano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Deiola
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Rog
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Cavuoti
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Liteta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Borrelli
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Pavoletti
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Trepy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Z. Luvumbo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
AC Milan
Goalkeepers
M. Maignan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
F. Tomori
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. De Winter 
MAGNET
83
Activity
83
Activity
77
Passes
6
Duels
D. Bartesaghi
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
A. Saelemaekers
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
54
Passes
14
Duels
Y. Fofana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
L. Modric 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
70%
Pass Acc
A. Rabiot 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
P. Estupinan
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Forwards
R. Leao 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
R. Loftus-Cheek
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
BENCH
P. Terracciano
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
L. Torriani
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Z. Athekame
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Odogu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Pavlovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Gabbia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Ricci
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Pulisic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Jashari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Fullkrug
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Castiello
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/01/2025 | AC Milan | 1 - 1 | Cagliari | Serie A | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza |
| 09/11/2024 | Cagliari | 3 - 3 | AC Milan | Serie A | Unipol Domus |
| 11/05/2024 | AC Milan | 5 - 1 | Cagliari | Serie A | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza |
| 02/01/2024 | AC Milan | 4 - 1 | Cagliari | Coppa Italia | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza |
| 27/09/2023 | Cagliari | 1 - 3 | AC Milan | Serie A | Unipol Domus |
| 19/03/2022 | Cagliari | 0 - 1 | AC Milan | Serie A | Unipol Domus |
| 29/08/2021 | AC Milan | 4 - 1 | Cagliari | Serie A | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza |
| 16/05/2021 | AC Milan | 0 - 0 | Cagliari | Serie A | Stadio Giuseppe Meazza |
| 18/01/2021 | Cagliari | 0 - 2 | AC Milan | Serie A | Sardegna Arena |
Cagliari Win
AC Milan Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +24
P: 18 GD: +17
P: 18 GD: +13
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 18 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +2
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: +1
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -11
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 18 GD: -7
P: 18 GD: -6
P: 18 GD: -12
P: 18 GD: -10
P: 18 GD: -10
P: 18 GD: -12
League Standings
P: 27 GD: +43
P: 27 GD: +23
P: 28 GD: +14
P: 28 GD: +25
P: 28 GD: +17
P: 28 GD: +22
P: 28 GD: +13
P: 28 GD: +3
P: 27 GD: -2
P: 28 GD: -8
P: 27 GD: -1
P: 28 GD: -12
P: 28 GD: -6
P: 28 GD: -8
P: 28 GD: -21
P: 28 GD: -17
P: 28 GD: -12
P: 28 GD: -18
P: 28 GD: -27
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Leão’s Clinical Finish Silences Unipol Domus
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 29/100. A professional and gritty performance from AC Milan sees them secure all three points, keeping the pressure on at the top while leaving Cagliari precariously close to the drop zone.
Tactical Stalemate in Sardinia
The encounter at the Unipol Domus began as a cagey affair, with both sides cautious of making a definitive mistake. AC Milan controlled possession with a 54% share, patiently probing a disciplined Cagliari defensive block. An Intensity rating of 2.5 was fueled largely by set-piece opportunities, as the two teams combined for 13 corners throughout the match. However, clear-cut chances remained elusive during the first half. The Sardinian hosts focused on maintaining their Balance, frustrating the Milanese giants and limiting them to speculative efforts from distance. Despite the visitors' territorial dominance, the lack of a final ball meant the deadlock remained unbroken heading into the interval.
The Breakthrough Moment
The dynamic shifted five minutes after the restart. In the 50th minute, A. Rabiot delivered a perfectly weighted pass that found R. Leao in space. The Portuguese forward made no mistake, finishing clinically to give Milan the lead. This goal forced Cagliari to abandon their defensive posture, significantly raising the Stakes for the remainder of the contest. As the home side pushed forward, Luka Modrić showcased his class in the middle of the park, recording 3 key passes to help Milan retain control and exploit the gaps left by the desperate hosts. The momentum was firmly with the Rossoneri, who looked the more likely to score a second on the break.
Defensive Solidity Seals the Points
Cagliari’s attempts at a late comeback were systematically dismantled by a superb Milanese rearguard. Koni De Winter was instrumental in this effort, earning a 7.7 rating for a commanding performance that restricted the hosts to just one shot on target the entire game. There was no Upset Factor to be found as the clock ticked down, with Milan’s experience shining through in the closing stages. The 0-1 result is a testament to Milan's title credentials, moving them to 44 points and solidifying their second-place standing. For Cagliari, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, leaving them 15th and deeply embroiled in a relegation battle where every point is becoming a necessity.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Cagliari's season?
The loss keeps Cagliari in 15th place with 18 points, leaving them just outside the relegation zone and desperate for points in their next fixtures.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Scudetto Dreams Face Sardinian Resistance
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 64/100. This clash represents a critical junction for AC Milan’s title aspirations as they look to overcome a resurgent Cagliari side at the Unipol Domus.
The Setup
Heading into this January 02, 2026 fixture, the narrative is dominated by the relentless pressure of the Title Race. AC Milan arrives in Sardinia as established away specialists, boasting a 62.5% win rate on the road this season. Their current Form (WDWWD) signals a team that has forgotten how to lose, anchored by the reliable Mike Maignan in goal. Conversely, Cagliari finds itself in mid-table obscurity but possesses a Balance that has seen them string together impressive results recently. While their home record shows only two wins from eight, the atmosphere at the Unipol Domus often levels the playing field against the league's giants. With high Stakes at both ends of the table, there is no room for complacency from the visitors.
Key Battle
The tactical heart of this match lies in the duel between Cagliari's creative spark, Sebastiano Esposito, and Milan's offensive catalyst, Christian Pulišić. Esposito has been the architect of Cagliari’s recent resurgence, contributing three goal involvements in his last four appearances. He will need to outshine Pulišić, whose world-class Stars rating of 8.9 makes him the most dangerous man on the pitch. If Esposito can find pockets of space between Milan's lines, Cagliari might just orchestrate an upset; otherwise, Pulišić’s clinical edge will likely dictate the outcome.
Our Prediction
The match is expected to follow a script of sustained Milanese pressure met by organized Sardinian counter-attacks. While Elia Caprile has been statistically superior in shot-stopping recently, the sheer volume of chances created by Rafael Leão and company should eventually break the deadlock. We expect a high-scoring affair where Milan’s superior depth eventually tells. A 1-3 victory for the Rossoneri is the most probable outcome, keeping their championship dreams firmly alive.