AC Milan begin 2026 with a chance to seize control of the Serie A title race as they travel to Sardinia to face Cagliari on Friday night. With momentum firmly on their side and rivals dropping points, the Rossoneri know that another victory could see them move top of the table at the turn of the year.
Unbeaten in the league since August, Milan have quietly built one of the most consistent campaigns in Italy. Their early exit from the Supercoppa Italiana after a 2–0 defeat to eventual winners Napoli briefly halted momentum. However, they responded emphatically by dispatching Hellas Verona in their final league outing of 2025.
That victory saw Christian Pulisic open the scoring before Christopher Nkunku finally broke his Serie A duck with a brace, underlining Milan’s growing attacking confidence. With four wins from their last five league matches, Massimiliano Allegri’s side remain firmly in the title hunt, just four points separating the top five teams.
Having no European or domestic cup distractions, Milan are benefiting from continuity and rhythm. Allegri has relied on a settled core of players, including Pulisic, Luka Modric and captain Mike Maignan, and no team across Europe’s top five leagues has made fewer substitutions this season, a testament to their stability and trust in the starting XI.
Friday’s trip also carries personal significance for Allegri, who previously managed Cagliari between 2008 and 2010 before beginning his illustrious spell at Milan. History heavily favours the visitors as well: Milan are unbeaten in their last 14 league meetings with the Sardinian side, although they were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw at the Unipol Domus last season.
Cagliari, however, will take encouragement from recent signs of life. After enduring a difficult run that saw them win just once in 12 league outings, the Rossoblu earned a morale-boosting victory away at Torino last weekend. Matteo Prati netted his first top-flight goal before Semih Kılıcsoy sealed the win, lifting the club to 14th in the table.
Still, survival remains the primary objective for the Sardinian outfit, who sit just above the relegation zone. With only five wins from their opening 18 matches, consistency remains elusive, and hosting one of Italy’s title contenders presents another significant challenge.
Historically, Cagliari have struggled badly against Milan, winning just five of their 46 home meetings with the Rossoneri. Their most recent victory in this fixture came back in May 2017, and they will need a near-perfect performance to end that drought. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Cagliari head into Friday night’s clash with AC Milan bolstered by the return of a couple of key figures, but they are still dealing with a lengthy injury list that limits Fabio Pisacane’s options. Juan Rodriguez and Yerry Mina are both available again after recovering from illness, strengthening the defensive unit at a crucial time.
However, the Rossoblu remain without Andrea Belotti, Zito Luvumbo, Mattia Felici, and Michael Folorunsho, all of whom are unavailable for selection. Folorunsho has recently undergone surgery on a medial collateral ligament injury and is expected to miss several weeks, while Luvumbo is away on international duty with Angola at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In attack, Semih Kilicsoy is expected to continue leading the line after scoring in back-to-back matches, emerging as one of Cagliari’s key attacking threats in recent weeks. He may be supported by Sebastiano Esposito, who is on loan from Inter and offers creativity between the lines, though Gianluca Gaetano and Gennaro Borrelli remain alternative options depending on the tactical setup chosen.
Cagliari are expected to adopt a 3-5-2 formation, prioritising defensive solidity while looking to transition quickly through midfield. Elia Caprile is set to start in goal, providing shot-stopping reliability and command of his penalty area.
The back three should consist of Gabriele Zappa, Yerry Mina, and Sebastiano Luperto, with Mina anchoring the defence and offering physical presence and leadership. On the flanks, Marco Palestra is likely to operate as the right wing-back, while Riyad Idrissi takes up the role on the left, both tasked with providing width and supporting attacks when possible.
As for the midfield unit, Alessandro Deiola and Matteo Prati are expected to anchor the play, with Michel Adopo also featuring centrally to provide energy and box-to-box presence. Up front, Sebastiano Esposito is likely to operate just off Semih Kilicsoy, linking midfield to attack and creating space through movement, while Kılıcsoy leads the line as the primary goal threat.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Palestra, Adopo, Deiola, Prati, Idrissi; Esposito, Kilicsoy
AC Milan head into Friday’s clash with cautious optimism regarding the fitness of Rafael Leao, who has resumed full training after a spell on the sidelines. While his involvement is still being assessed, the Portuguese forward is expected to feature at some stage, even if not from the opening whistle.
However, the Rossoneri remain without Matteo Gabbia, who continues his recovery from injury, and Santiago Gimenez, who is also sidelined and unavailable for selection. With Leao not yet at full sharpness, Massimiliano Allegri is likely to persist with a front pairing that has shown promise in recent outings.
Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku are expected to lead the line once again, with both players finding form at the right time. Pulisic has been particularly influential, becoming one of only four players to score multiple braces in Serie A this season, while Nkunku recently ended his league goal drought and is growing in confidence.
Milan are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation, providing defensive stability while allowing flexibility in midfield and attack. Mike Maignan will start in goal, offering leadership and elite shot-stopping from the back.
The three-man defensive unit should consist of Fikayo Tomori, Kony De Winter, and Strahinja Pavlovic, combining pace, physicality, and ball-playing ability. Tomori is likely to operate on the right side of the back three, with Pavlovic offering aerial dominance on the left.
In midfield, Alexis Saelemaekers is expected to operate as the right wing-back, providing width and energy, while Davide Bartesaghi fills the same role on the left. Central midfield duties should fall to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Luka Modric, and Adrien Rabiot.
Up front, Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku are likely to form a mobile and dynamic partnership, interchanging positions and exploiting spaces behind the Cagliari defence.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Nkunku
The veteran continues to defy time and expectation, remaining one of the most influential midfielders in European football despite entering the latter stages of his illustrious career. For AC Milan, his presence has added composure, intelligence, and control in the middle of the pitch, qualities that could prove decisive against a Cagliari side likely to defend deep and look to counter.
Modric’s greatest strength lies in his ability to dictate tempo. Whether dropping deep to collect the ball from defenders or pushing forward to link play in advanced areas, he constantly provides passing angles and maintains rhythm under pressure. His vision allows Milan to switch play effortlessly, stretch defensive blocks, and create space for runners ahead of him.
Beyond his technical brilliance, Modric’s experience is invaluable in high-pressure moments. He reads the game exceptionally well, rarely wastes possession, and knows when to slow proceedings or accelerate the tempo.
Against a Cagliari side that may sit compact and attempt to frustrate, his patience and precision could be the key to unlocking defensive lines. If AC Milan are to assert control early and dictate proceedings in Sardinia, Luka Modric’s influence in midfield will be central to making that happen.
Cagliari’s resilience at home and their recent lift in confidence may allow them to stay competitive early on, but AC Milan’s superior quality, experience, and control in midfield should ultimately make the difference. With players like Luka Modric dictating tempo and Christian Pulisic providing cutting edge in attack, the Rossoneri look well equipped to manage the game and exploit any defensive lapses.
Cagliari may threaten on the counter, especially through Semih Kilicsoy, but sustaining pressure against Milan’s structure will be difficult over 90 minutes. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Massimiliano Allegri and his charges.
