AC Milan vs Cagliari Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Sergio Conceicao’s reign in charge of AC Milan began with silverware last week in Saudi Arabia as the Rossoneri now take on a struggling Cagliari side at San Siro this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 11th January, 2025: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – TNT Sports & OneFootball / US – Paramount+
AC Milan Preview: Rossoneri rejuvenation
Sergio Conceicao’s reign in charge of AC Milan saw the seven-time European champions come from behind to defeat Juventus in the semi-finals and then Derby della Madonnina rivals Internazionale in the final to win the Supercoppa Italiana last weekend.
The Rossoneri have produced some impressive results and performances this season, such as their win against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, but it wasn’t enough to keep Paulo Fonseca in charge and he was replaced by Conceicao ahead of that aforementioned Super Cup.
Cagliari Preview: Sardinian struggles
Davide Nicola took charge of Cagliari over the summer following the retirement of Claudio Ranieri with the Sardinians performing quite well at times this season but the visitors are hovering just above the bottom three and the relegation places.
They come into this one on the back of a vital victory at Stadio Brianteo at Monza last weekend. Monza took the lead in the sixth minute via a Gianluca Caprari penalty before goals from Nadir Zortea and Roberto Piccoli turned the game on its head to secure three points.
AC Milan Team News: The Conceicao effect
Playing an aggressive 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 system probably suits the make-up of the Milan squad this season but the Rossoneri do have some absentees for this one. Emerson Royal is missing through suspension, whilst Rafael Leao is an injury doubt.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Pulisic, Bennacer, Fofana, Reijnders, Leao; Alvaro Morata
Unavailable: Emerson Royal (Suspended), Florenzi (Injured), Chukwueze (Injured)
Questionable: Loftus-Cheek (Injured), Leao (Injured), Okafor (Injured)
Cagliari Team News: Jankto a doubt
Czechia international midfielder Jakub Jankto is a doubt for this weekend due to illness. They also have a couple of injury doubts in attacking areas such as Angola international Zito Luvumbo as well as Kingstone Mutandwa.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Scuffet; Zappa, Yerry Mina, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Adopo, Makoumbou, Felici; Viola, Piccoli
Unavailable:
Questionable: Jankto (Illness), Mutandwa (Injured), Luvumbo (Injured)
AC Milan vs Cagliari Prediction
This is quite a one-sided affair. Sergio Conceicao’s first Serie A game and first game at San Siro comes in the unusual situation of having already delivered a trophy for the Rossoneri so the mood will be positive, despite performances being generally indifferent in Saudi Arabia last week. They do, though, face a Cagliari side that are expected to be fighting relegation until the bitter end of this campaign and Milan, especially at home, should win this one quite comfortably.
AC Milan vs Cagliari Tip: AC Milan to win -1 handicap
