Rafael Leao scored the primary Serie A aim of 2026 to present a reshuffled Milan the victory away to Cagliari, with Niclas Fullkrug making his debut.
The Rossoneri had Rafael Leao again, however Christopher Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez missed out, plus Strahinja Pavlovic, Christian Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia not totally match, so Davide Bartesaghi dropped into defence. was within the squad hours after finishing the mortgage from West Ham. The Sardinians misplaced Michael Folorunsho, Ze Pedro, Andrea Belotti and Mattia Felici, with Yerry Mina and Alessandro Deiola . Zito Luvumbo and Joseph Liteta got here again after AFCON early elimination.
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CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Adam Obert of Cagliari and Youssouf Fofana of Milan battle for management of the ball in the course of the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Picture by Enrico Locci/Getty Pictures)
Pervis Estupinan stepped in for Bartesaghi and instantly made two errors within the first two minutes, which Matteo Prati and Marco Palestra did not benefit from. Michel Adopo’s header was straight at Mike Maignan, whereas Sebastiano Luperto prevented Rafael Leao from assembly the Alexis Saelemaekers roll throughout from the suitable.
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Luca Mazzitelli might solely discover the side-netting from a wise Prati dinked go. Cagliari received away with one on the stroke of half-time, as Juan Rodriguez introduced down Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but it surely wasn’t a penalty as a result of Leao was offside within the build-up.
CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Marco Palestra of Cagliari in motion in the course of the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Picture by Enrico Locci/Getty Pictures)
Leao additionally hit the crossbar on the daybreak of the second half, however that wouldn’t have counted both, because the ball had already gone out of play on the nook.
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Loftus-Cheek was onside when nodding an Alexis Saelemaekers cross over, and Milan broke the impasse moments later after beginning the second half with a clearly totally different perspective.
CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Adam Obert of Cagliari reacts as Rafael Leao of Milan scores a aim, bringing the rating to 0-1 in the course of the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Picture by Enrico Locci/Getty Pictures)
Adrien Rabiot received down the suitable from a Youssouf Fofana go and rolled throughout, as Gabriele Zappa did not intercept, so Leao managed along with his proper boot and fired into the far prime nook along with his left from 9 yards. It was the twelfth time in Serie A this season that Milan had scored with their first shot on the right track.
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Sebastiano Esposito went off with cramp and Niclas Fullkrug made his Milan debut, simply hours after finishing the mortgage transfer from West Ham.
CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 02: Sebastiano Luperto of Cagliari and Niclas Füllkrug of Milan conflict in the course of the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 02, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Picture by Enrico Locci/Getty Pictures)
Semih Kilicsoy’s overhead kick was deflected vast by Samuele Ricci, whereas Elia Caprile’s gloves had been stung by Pulisic on the again publish on a Fullkrug help.
Luka Modric’s cheeky free kick was bent low across the wall on the close to backside nook, Caprile scrambling throughout to push it off the road.
Cagliari 0-1 Milan
Leao 50 (M)