AC MILAN v CAGLIARI: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan are set to face Cagliari on matchday 20 of the Serie A season: kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CET at San Siro. Led by Sérgio Conceição, the team are ready to give their all. With the league season continually intensifying, the Rossoneri want and must improve their league position after drawing at home in their final fixture of 2024 and, in general, performing below par so far. Here is our Match Preview to introduce the clash:

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan have just won the Supercoppa Italiana, and the celebrations in Riyadh have no doubt given the Rossoneri a real boost as they look to improve their form in Serie A. The team need to step things up in the league, starting with this must-win match. Conceição, who will be taking charge of his first Serie A fixture, will likely send his side out in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Calabria is the favourite to start at right-back in place of the suspended E. Royal, while Musah is ready to play in midfield. Other than that, there should be no surprise inclusions, with Chukwueze and Loftus-Cheek both unavailable.

"We deserved and enjoyed our Supercoppa victory," said Coach Conceição on the eve of the game. "However, we trail first place by 17 points in Serie A. We can't be complacent. I've come across a very positive changing room. This is a great group that accept what we say, even though the rules are now different. For me, humility is fundamental."

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LATEST FROM CAGLIARI
Cagliari come into the game on the back of an important 2-1 comeback win away to Monza. Davide Nicola's side have struggled for consistency, alternating between good performances and difficult periods. After their home defeat to Inter, the result in Monza has restored confidence in the group as they look to improve their league position. The clash at San Siro is an important test for the Rossoblù, who are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, from new arrival Caprile between the sticks to Piccoli up front and Marin, Zappa and Zortea in between. Mina and Luvumbo are both doubts.

"In the first half of the season, we came away with a tally of points which aligns with our objective," said Nicola. "However, we want more. AC Milan are used to playing every three days. I don't think they'll be tired; on the contrary, every win generates enthusiasm. AC Milan have a strong and talented squad. We'll need to be focused and show real determination when attacking and defending."

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• AC Milan haven't lost any of their last 13 matches against Cagliari in Serie A (W10, D3).
• Since the start of this century, AC Milan have faced Cagliari 18 times at San Siro in Serie A (46 goals scored, eleven conceded), winning on 17 occasions. Against no other team have the Rossoneri recorded more league victories on home soil in this period (17 against Lazio, too).
• Sergio Conceição has won his first two matches in charge of AC Milan; this last Rossoneri coach to win his first three games in all competitions was Sacchi in August 1987. Conceição will be the second Portuguese coach in history to lead AC Milan in Serie A.
• In the Supercoppa, AC Milan staged a comeback in both matches to emerge victorious. Since the start of the current league campaign, the Rossoneri have come from behind to draw three times, but are yet to win from a losing position.
• Cagliari are one of Rafael Leão's two favourite victims in Serie A (five goals scored, just like against Lecce). The Portuguese has scored in both of his last two home matches versus the Sardinians, against whom he also bagged a brace earlier in this campaign (the only time he's scored more than once in a single league game in 2024/25).

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WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v CAGLIARI ON TV
In Italy, the game will be live on DAZN and Sky. To watch AC Milan v Cagliari from a different country, please consult the "AC Milan on TV" page. Follow Matchday on Milan TV: live coverage will begin at 20:00 CET until shortly before kick-off, with the game being followed by interviews and Coach Conceição's press conference. Don't miss out on our coverage via acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App (where the full deferred broadcast will be available in the coming days), our official social media channels and WhatsApp.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
The referee for the match will be Matteo Marchetti, who will have Alassio and Cipressa as his assistants. Perenzoni will perform the role of fourth official, while Di Paolo, assisted by Camplone, will oversee VAR.

Lazio 1-1 Como kicked off matchday 20 in Serie A. Empoli v Lecce (15:00 CET), Udinese v Atalanta (15:00 CET), Torino v Juventus (18:00 CET) and AC Milan v Cagliari (20:45 CET) are all scheduled for Saturday. On Sunday, the following games will be played: Genoa v Parma (12:30 CET), Venezia v Inter (15:00 CET), Bologna v Roma (18:00 CET) and Napoli v Hellas Verona (20:45 CET). Monza v Fiorentina (at 20:45 CET on Monday) will bring the latest round of fixtures to an end.

This is the current league table: Napoli* 44; Atalanta** 41; Inter*** 40; Lazio 36; Juventus** and Fiorentina** 32; Bologna*** 28; AC Milan*** 27; Udinese* 25; Roma* 23; Torino* 21; Empoli*, Genoa* and Parma* 20; Hellas Verona* and Como* 19; Cagliari***, Lecce*** and Venezia* 17; Monza* 10 (* = one game in hand; ** = two games in hand; *** = three games in hand)

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