AC MILAN BEGIN 2026 WITH A WIN
Serie A
A winning start to the year! AC Milan extended their unbeaten run in Serie A with a narrow 1-0 victory over Cagliari on matchday 18. The decisive goal came in the 50th minute, with Rafael Leão finishing off Rabiot's assist. Thanks to this win, the Rossoneri have provisionally moved to the top of the table on 38 points. Massimiliano Allegri's men, lining up in their usual 3-5-2 despite a slight reshuffle due to a few absences, once again showed their defensive solidity, recording their tenth clean sheet of the season. Cagliari tried to put up a fight but faded as the game went on and lacked cutting edge in the final third.
The match was a lively, free-flowing affair, with AC Milan seizing control after the break and managing the game well, striking at just the right moment. After an unconvincing first half, the Rossoneri broke the deadlock through a well-worked move involving Fofana and Rabiot, finished off by Leão. The team showed great composure in the closing stages, with standout performances from Bartesaghi in the back three and Modrić, who influenced play across the pitch. Füllkrug also made a notable debut in Rossoneri colours. It was a determined, compact display - exactly what was needed to get 2026 off to the best possible start and head into the upcoming matches with confidence. Forza Milan!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM CAGLIARI v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
An aggressive start from Cagliari: Prati, Palestra, and Prati again tested the goal in the opening seconds. AC Milan tried to wake up: in the 4th minute Leão’s attempt was blocked after Saelemaekers’ pass and Loftus-Cheek’s run, and in the 17th minute Loftus-Cheek mishit a diagonal shot, wasting a good chance. AC Milan grew into the game while maintaining an attacking outlook: in the 28th minute, Saelemaekers' chance was blocked after a scramble from a corner. In the 32nd minute Obert headed dangerously, but his effort was saved by Maignan. In the 38th minute Leão attacked the box again, and in 41st minute, there was a tense moment as Mazzitelli shot off-target.
AC Milan shifted gear at the start of the second half, accelerating sharply: in the 49th minute Saelemaekers crossed for Loftus-Cheek, who missed the target. In the 50th minute, AC Milan opened the scoring after a collective move: Fofana played the ball vertically, Rabiot delivered the cross, and Leão collected it and fired a powerful left-footed shot into the net. The Rossoblù felt the blow; in the 59th minute, Bartesaghi tested Caprile. Apart from a scare in the 70th minute from Kılıçsoy’s dangerous overhead-kick (deflected by Ricci), AC Milan managed the match comfortably and even came close to doubling their lead: in the 87th minute, Pulisic, set up by Füllkrug’s flick, forced an important save from Caprile, and in the 90th minute, Modrić’s low free-kick almost beat the goalkeeper.
MATCH DETAILS
CAGLIARI 0-1 AC MILAN
CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Caprile; Zappa, Luperto, Rodríguez; Palestra, Adopo, Prati (61' Borrelli), Mazzitelli (83' Cavuoti), Obert (61' Idrissi); Esposito (66' Gaetano), Kılıçsoy (83' Pavoletti). Subs: Ciocci, Radunović; Di Pardo, Mina, Pintus; Deiola, Liteta, Rog; Luvumbo, Trepy. Coach: Pisacane.
AC MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Bartesaghi; Saelemaekers, Fofana (69' Ricci), Modrić, Rabiot, Estupiñan (79' Gabbia); Loftus-Cheek (79' Pulisic), Leão (69' Füllkrug). Subs: Terracciano, Torriani; Athekame, Odogu, Pavlović; Jashari; Castiello. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Abisso from Palermo.
Goals: 50' Leão (M).
Booked: 83' Idrissi (C), 91' Saelemaekers (M), 91' Palestra (C).
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