Serie A Gameweek 18

Cagliari 0 - 1 FT AC Milan

Unipol Domus

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
28
FT
Fri, Jan 2
Italiano
Cagliari
0-1
AC Milan
⚡ Intensity 17
⚖️ Balance 22
🏆 Stakes 49
🎲 Upset 0
Leão strike sinks Cagliari at home.

Win Probability

  • Cagliari 22%
  • Draw 27%
  • AC Milan 52%

Futmetrix AI estimate

Leão’s Clinical Finish Silences Unipol Domus

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 28/100. 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.

Match Statistics

Possession
46%
54%
Cagliari 46%
AC Milan 54%
Shots
6
11
Cagliari 6
AC Milan 11
Shots on Target
1
4
Cagliari 1
AC Milan 4
Expected Goals (xG)
0.38
0.70
Cagliari 0.38
AC Milan 0.70
Passes
447
538
Cagliari 447
AC Milan 538
Pass Accuracy
87%
87%
Cagliari 87%
AC Milan 87%
Corners
6
7
Cagliari 6
AC Milan 7
Fouls
10
8
Cagliari 10
AC Milan 8
Yellow Cards
2
1
Cagliari 2
AC Milan 1
Red Cards
0
0
Cagliari 0
AC Milan 0

Match Events

HT
R. Leao (A. Rabiot) ⚽ 50'
60' 🔄 ↓ A. Obert ↑R. Idrissi
61' 🔄 ↓ M. Prati ↑G. Borrelli
66' 🔄 ↓ S. Esposito ↑G. Gaetano
↓ R. Leao ↑N. Fullkrug 🔄 69'
↓ Y. Fofana ↑S. Ricci 🔄 69'
↓ R. Loftus-Cheek ↑C. Pulisic 🔄 79'
↓ P. Estupinan ↑M. Gabbia 🔄 79'
83' 🟨 Riyad Idrissi
83' 🔄 ↓ S. Kilicsoy ↑L. Pavoletti
83' 🔄 ↓ L. Mazzitelli ↑N. Cavuoti
90'+1 🟨 Marco Palestra
Alexis Saelemaekers 🟨 90'+1
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Cagliari

Goalkeepers
Elia Caprile
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Gabriele Zappa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sebastiano Luperto
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Juan Martín Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Marco Palestra
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Michel Adopo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matteo Prati
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Luca Mazzitelli
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Adam Obert
DRIBBLER
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Forwards
Semih Kılıçsoy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Sebastiano Esposito
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
BENCH
Giuseppe Ciocci
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Boris Radunovic
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Riyad Idrissi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alessandro Di Pardo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicola Pintus
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yerry Mina
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gianluca Gaetano
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alessandro Deiola
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marko Rog
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolò Cavuoti
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Liteta
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gennaro Borrelli
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leonardo Pavoletti
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Trepy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zito Luvumbo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

AC Milan

Goalkeepers
Mike Maignan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Fikayo Tomori
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Koni De Winter
MAGNET
MAGNET
83
Activity
83
Activity
77
Passes
6
Duels
Davide Bartesaghi
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
Alexis Saelemaekers
MAGNET
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
54
Passes
14
Duels
Youssouf Fofana
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Luka Modrić
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
70%
Pass Acc
Adrien Rabiot
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
Pervis Estupiñán
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Forwards
Rafael Leão
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
BENCH
Pietro Terracciano
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lorenzo Torriani
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Zachary Athekame
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David Odogu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Strahinja Pavlović
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matteo Gabbia
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Samuele Ricci
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christian Pulišić
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ardon Jashari
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Niclas Füllkrug
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Castiello
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
01/02/2026 Cagliari 0 - 1 AC Milan Serie A Unipol Domus
01/11/2025 AC Milan 1 - 1 Cagliari Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
11/09/2024 Cagliari 3 - 3 AC Milan Serie A Unipol Domus
05/11/2024 AC Milan 5 - 1 Cagliari Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
01/02/2024 AC Milan 4 - 1 Cagliari Coppa Italia Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
09/27/2023 Cagliari 1 - 3 AC Milan Serie A Unipol Domus
03/19/2022 Cagliari 0 - 1 AC Milan Serie A Unipol Domus
08/29/2021 AC Milan 4 - 1 Cagliari Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
05/16/2021 AC Milan 0 - 0 Cagliari Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
01/18/2021 Cagliari 0 - 2 AC Milan Serie A Sardegna Arena
01/02/2026
Serie A Unipol Domus
01/11/2025
Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
11/09/2024
Serie A Unipol Domus
05/11/2024
Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
01/02/2024
Coppa Italia Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
09/27/2023
Serie A Unipol Domus
03/19/2022
Serie A Unipol Domus
08/29/2021
Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
05/16/2021
Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
01/18/2021
Serie A Sardegna Arena
Cagliari Win
AC Milan Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Inter 18 42 39 15 +24 WInter 1 - 0 Lecce (14-01-2026)WInter 3 - 1 Bologna (04-01-2026)WAtalanta 0 - 1 Inter (28-12-2025)WGenoa 1 - 2 Inter (14-12-2025)WInter 4 - 0 Como (06-12-2025)
2 AC Milan 18 41 31 14 +17 WComo 1 - 3 AC Milan (15-01-2026)WCagliari 0 - 1 AC Milan (02-01-2026)WAC Milan 3 - 0 Hellas Verona (28-12-2025)DAC Milan 2 - 2 Sassuolo (14-12-2025)WTorino 2 - 3 AC Milan (08-12-2025)
3 Napoli 18 38 26 13 +13 DNapoli 0 - 0 Parma (14-01-2026)WLazio 0 - 2 Napoli (04-01-2026)WCremonese 0 - 2 Napoli (28-12-2025)LUdinese 1 - 0 Napoli (14-12-2025)WNapoli 2 - 1 Juventus (07-12-2025)
4 Juventus 18 33 24 16 +8 DJuventus 1 - 1 Lecce (03-01-2026)WPisa 0 - 2 Juventus (27-12-2025)WJuventus 2 - 1 AS Roma (20-12-2025)WBologna 0 - 1 Juventus (14-12-2025)LNapoli 2 - 1 Juventus (07-12-2025)
5 AS Roma 18 33 20 12 +8 LAtalanta 1 - 0 AS Roma (03-01-2026)WAS Roma 3 - 1 Genoa (29-12-2025)LJuventus 2 - 1 AS Roma (20-12-2025)WAS Roma 1 - 0 Como (15-12-2025)LCagliari 1 - 0 AS Roma (07-12-2025)
6 Como 18 30 24 15 +9 LComo 1 - 3 AC Milan (15-01-2026)WComo 1 - 0 Udinese (03-01-2026)WLecce 0 - 3 Como (27-12-2025)LAS Roma 1 - 0 Como (15-12-2025)LInter 4 - 0 Como (06-12-2025)
7 Bologna 18 29 28 19 +9 WHellas Verona 2 - 3 Bologna (15-01-2026)LInter 3 - 1 Bologna (04-01-2026)DBologna 1 - 1 Sassuolo (28-12-2025)LBologna 0 - 1 Juventus (14-12-2025)DLazio 1 - 1 Bologna (07-12-2025)
8 Atalanta 18 25 21 19 +2 WAtalanta 1 - 0 AS Roma (03-01-2026)LAtalanta 0 - 1 Inter (28-12-2025)WGenoa 0 - 1 Atalanta (21-12-2025)WAtalanta 2 - 1 Cagliari (13-12-2025)LHellas Verona 3 - 1 Atalanta (06-12-2025)
9 Lazio 18 24 18 14 +4 LLazio 0 - 2 Napoli (04-01-2026)DUdinese 1 - 1 Lazio (27-12-2025)DLazio 0 - 0 Cremonese (20-12-2025)WParma 0 - 1 Lazio (13-12-2025)DLazio 1 - 1 Bologna (07-12-2025)
10 Sassuolo 18 23 23 22 +1 DSassuolo 1 - 1 Parma (03-01-2026)DBologna 1 - 1 Sassuolo (28-12-2025)LSassuolo 0 - 1 Torino (21-12-2025)DAC Milan 2 - 2 Sassuolo (14-12-2025)WSassuolo 3 - 1 Fiorentina (06-12-2025)
11 Torino 18 23 20 28 -8 WHellas Verona 0 - 3 Torino (04-01-2026)LTorino 1 - 2 Cagliari (27-12-2025)WSassuolo 0 - 1 Torino (21-12-2025)WTorino 1 - 0 Cremonese (13-12-2025)LTorino 2 - 3 AC Milan (08-12-2025)
12 Udinese 18 22 18 29 -11 LComo 1 - 0 Udinese (03-01-2026)DUdinese 1 - 1 Lazio (27-12-2025)LFiorentina 5 - 1 Udinese (21-12-2025)WUdinese 1 - 0 Napoli (14-12-2025)LUdinese 1 - 2 Genoa (08-12-2025)
13 Cremonese 18 21 18 21 -3 LFiorentina 1 - 0 Cremonese (04-01-2026)LCremonese 0 - 2 Napoli (28-12-2025)DLazio 0 - 0 Cremonese (20-12-2025)LTorino 1 - 0 Cremonese (13-12-2025)WCremonese 2 - 0 Lecce (07-12-2025)
14 Parma 18 19 12 19 -7 DNapoli 0 - 0 Parma (14-01-2026)DSassuolo 1 - 1 Parma (03-01-2026)WParma 1 - 0 Fiorentina (27-12-2025)LParma 0 - 1 Lazio (13-12-2025)WPisa 0 - 1 Parma (08-12-2025)
15 Cagliari 18 18 19 25 -6 LCagliari 0 - 1 AC Milan (02-01-2026)WTorino 1 - 2 Cagliari (27-12-2025)DCagliari 2 - 2 Pisa (21-12-2025)LAtalanta 2 - 1 Cagliari (13-12-2025)WCagliari 1 - 0 AS Roma (07-12-2025)
16 Lecce 18 17 12 24 -12 LInter 1 - 0 Lecce (14-01-2026)DJuventus 1 - 1 Lecce (03-01-2026)LLecce 0 - 3 Como (27-12-2025)WLecce 1 - 0 Pisa (12-12-2025)LCremonese 2 - 0 Lecce (07-12-2025)
17 Genoa 18 15 18 28 -10 DGenoa 1 - 1 Pisa (03-01-2026)LAS Roma 3 - 1 Genoa (29-12-2025)LGenoa 0 - 1 Atalanta (21-12-2025)LGenoa 1 - 2 Inter (14-12-2025)WUdinese 1 - 2 Genoa (08-12-2025)
18 Fiorentina 18 12 18 28 -10 WFiorentina 1 - 0 Cremonese (04-01-2026)LParma 1 - 0 Fiorentina (27-12-2025)WFiorentina 5 - 1 Udinese (21-12-2025)LFiorentina 1 - 2 Hellas Verona (14-12-2025)LSassuolo 3 - 1 Fiorentina (06-12-2025)
19 Pisa 18 12 13 25 -12 DGenoa 1 - 1 Pisa (03-01-2026)LPisa 0 - 2 Juventus (27-12-2025)DCagliari 2 - 2 Pisa (21-12-2025)LLecce 1 - 0 Pisa (12-12-2025)LPisa 0 - 1 Parma (08-12-2025)
20 Hellas Verona 18 12 15 31 -16 LHellas Verona 2 - 3 Bologna (15-01-2026)LHellas Verona 0 - 3 Torino (04-01-2026)LAC Milan 3 - 0 Hellas Verona (28-12-2025)WFiorentina 1 - 2 Hellas Verona (14-12-2025)WHellas Verona 3 - 1 Atalanta (06-12-2025)

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