After six games without a win, AC Milan will aim to end their drought on Saturday evening, when they welcome relegation-threatened Cagliari to San Siro.
While Milan are yet to confirm a second-place finish in Serie A, their Sardinian counterparts have only three games left to secure top-flight survival.
Match preview
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Having previously exited Europe at the hands of Roma, then suffered a sixth straight derby loss - handing the Scudetto straight to their city rivals - Milan's dismal end to the season has continued to unfold over the past fortnight.
After being held goalless by third-placed Juventus, the Rossoneri twice fought back from behind to lead 3-2 against Genoa last weekend - scoring for a 12th successive Serie A home game in the process - but still could not hold on for victory.
Goals from Matteo Gabbia and Olivier Giroud had finally put the hosts in front at San Siro; however, Malick Thiaw's late own-goal meant they ultimately had to settle for just one point.
That result did nothing to quieten critics of coach Stefano Pioli, who appears to be bound for the exit this summer, only two years after defying the odds to pip Inter Milan to the title.
Now enduring their worst winless run in Serie A for just over a year, Milan can still be caught by Juve, who trail by five points; but aside from securing runners-up spot behind Inter, Pioli's men have little left to play for.
Hit by several defensive absences, Milan have conceded five goals across their last two home games - as many as in the previous 10 - so their first focus this week will be keeping the back door shut.
Recent history suggests that could well be possible, as the Rossoneri have won seven of their last eight matches against Cagliari, conceding just twice.
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Illustrating the gulf between two very different clubs, Cagliari's last away win over Milan dates back to June 1997; since then, they have suffered no fewer than 17 defeats.
On this occasion, the Rossoblu will arrive at San Siro seeking points to aid their survival hopes, as they sit just three points clear of the drop zone and could still be sent straight back to Serie B.
Claudio Ranieri's side were dramatically promoted through the second-tier playoffs last year, but after taking some time to adapt, they seemed to be on course to achieve safety last month, beating Atalanta BC and then drawing with Inter and Juventus.
Following a spirited surge up the standings, Cagliari have since taken only one point from their next two fixtures: a 3-0 loss to Genoa being followed by a 1-1 home draw against Lecce last time out.
Yerry Mina scored his second goal in three games to put them ahead against the latter, but Gianluca Gaetano was subsequently sent off, and they failed to hang on for three precious points.
With only one away win to their name all season, the Sardinian side now start as underdogs in Milan, and if other results do not go their way in a multi-team relegation fight, they could drop into the bottom three with two games to play.
Team News
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Boosting Stefano Pioli's options for Saturday, Milan can call upon captain Davide Calabria - who has now served a two-match suspension for his red card against Inter - and Yunus Musah is also back in action after a one-match ban.
However, goalkeeper Mike Maignan joins midfield duo Tommaso Pobega and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the treatment room due to injury, while Danish defender Simon Kjaer is still struggling with a flexor problem.
Soon to depart for MLS, Olivier Giroud plays his penultimate home game for the Rossoneri, aiming to sign off a largely successful spell in style: the French forward - who scored his first two Serie A goals against Cagliari in August 2021 - has found the net twice in his last three matches at San Siro.
While Milan will have two men back from suspension, Cagliari must do without both Tommaso Augello and Gianluca Gaetano for disciplinary reasons this weekend.
Antoine Makoumbou and Marco Mancosu are ruled out by injury, but goalscoring centre-back Yerry Mina should grit his teeth through the pain of a calf problem.
Veteran striker Leonardo Pavoletti is now available after spending time on the sidelines with a fractured foot, but Claudio Ranieri is likely to select his front two from Gianluca Lapadula, Zito Luvumbo and Eldor Shomurodov.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Sportiello; Calabria, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Musah, Bennacer, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Nandez, Dossena, Mina, Azzi; Deiola, Sulemana, Prati; Oristanio; Luvumbo, Lapadula
We say: AC Milan 2-1 Cagliari
Although Milan are clearly running out of steam as the season nears its end and are set to make several changes, Cagliari do not travel well and have a horrendous record in this fixture. Therefore, the hosts should win their first match for over a month.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
