Match report

AC Milan Defeats Cagliari 1-0 in Serie A

Cagliari
Cagliari
0–1
FT
AC Milan
AC Milan
Jan 2, 2026

AC Milan made a crucial step in their pursuit of the Scudetto by defeating Cagliari 1-0. The decisive moment came when Rafael Leao scored the only goal of the match, assisted by Adrien Rabiot. Despite multiple substitutions and a yellow card for Alexis Saelemaekers late in the game, AC Milan managed to hold on to their lead.

Key Facts

  • • Final score: Cagliari 0–1 AC Milan
  • • Goal by Rafael Leao (50') assisted by Adrien Rabiot
  • • Yellow card for Alexis Saelemaekers in the 90th minute
  • • Multiple substitutions made by both teams, particularly Cagliari

Lineups

Cagliari

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 1 E. Caprile (G)
  • 28 G. Zappa (D)
  • 6 S. Luperto (D)
  • 15 J. Rodriguez (D)
  • 2 M. Palestra (M)
  • 8 M. Adopo (M)
  • 16 M. Prati (M)
  • 4 L. Mazzitelli (M)
  • 33 A. Obert (M)
  • 9 S. Kilicsoy (F)
  • 94 S. Esposito (F)

Substitutes

  • 24 G. Ciocci
  • 31 B. Radunovic
  • 3 R. Idrissi
  • 10 G. Gaetano
  • 14 A. Deiola
  • 18 A. Di Pardo
  • 20 M. Rog
  • 21 N. Cavuoti
  • 23 N. Pintus
  • 26 Y. Mina
  • 27 J. Liteta
  • 29 G. Borrelli
  • 30 L. Pavoletti
  • 37 Y. Trepy
  • 77 Z. Luvumbo

AC Milan

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 16 M. Maignan (G)
  • 23 F. Tomori (D)
  • 5 K. De Winter (D)
  • 33 D. Bartesaghi (D)
  • 56 A. Saelemaekers (M)
  • 19 Y. Fofana (M)
  • 14 L. Modric (M)
  • 12 A. Rabiot (M)
  • 2 P. Estupinan (M)
  • 10 R. Leao (F)
  • 8 R. Loftus-Cheek (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 P. Terracciano
  • 96 L. Torriani
  • 4 S. Ricci
  • 9 N. Fullkrug
  • 11 C. Pulisic
  • 24 Z. Athekame
  • 27 D. Odogu
  • 30 A. Jashari
  • 31 S. Pavlovic
  • 38 A. Castiello
  • 46 M. Gabbia

Timeline

  1. AC Milan
    50' AC Milan Goal · Normal Goal
    R. Leao · Assist: Adrien Rabiot
  2. Cagliari
    60' Cagliari subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Adam Obert · On: R. Idrissi
  3. Cagliari
    61' Cagliari subst · Substitution 2
    Off: M. Prati · On: Gennaro Borrelli
  4. Cagliari
    66' Cagliari subst · Substitution 3
    Off: S. Esposito · On: G. Gaetano
  5. AC Milan
    69' AC Milan subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Youssouf Fofana · On: S. Ricci
  6. AC Milan
    69' AC Milan subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. Leao · On: Niclas Füllkrug
  7. AC Milan
    79' AC Milan subst · Substitution 3
    Off: R. Loftus-Cheek · On: C. Pulisic
  8. AC Milan
    79' AC Milan subst · Substitution 4
    Off: P. Estupinan · On: Matteo Gabbia
  9. Cagliari
    83' Cagliari Card · Yellow Card
    R. Idrissi

    Foul

  10. Cagliari
    83' Cagliari subst · Substitution 4
    Off: L. Mazzitelli · On: N. Cavuoti
  11. Cagliari
    83' Cagliari subst · Substitution 5
    Off: S. Kilicsoy · On: L. Pavoletti
  12. AC Milan
    90'+1 AC Milan Card · Yellow Card
    Alexis Saelemaekers

    Argument

Match Stats

Stat Cagliari AC Milan
Fouls 10 8
Pass Accuracy 87% 87%
Offsides 0 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 6 11
Corners 6 7
Total Passes 447 538
Yellow Cards 2 1
Blocked Shots 1 3
Shots on Target 1 4
xG 0.38 0.70
Shots off Target 4 4
Possession 46% 54%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 389 470
Shots Inside Box 4 7
Saves 3 1
Shots Outside Box 2 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Rafael Leao's goal at the 50-minute mark gave AC Milan a crucial lead that they never relinquished.
  • ▸ Substitutions by both teams in the latter half of the match did not alter the game's momentum, with AC Milan maintaining their defensive solidity.