Fresh from their dramatic Super Cup triumph, AC Milan will host Cagliari in Serie A's Saturday night kickoff, aiming to continue a superb start to Sergio Conceicao's reign.
The Rossoneri twice recovered from trailing at half time to win two tough matches and lift the Supercoppa Italiana, while their Sardinian counterparts celebrated a more modest success last time out.
Match preview
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A stunning comeback secured Milan's eighth Supercoppa trophy on Monday evening, tasting all the more sweet as it came at their arch-rivals' expense, having beaten defending champions Inter Milan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tammy Abraham's late winner completed the Rossoneri's revival in a thrilling Derby della Madonnina, following earlier strikes from Theo Hernandez and Christian Pulisic - and the second-half introduction of an inspired Rafael Leao proved vital.
Within a week of his appointment, new boss Sergio Conceicao has led Milan to victories over Juventus and their city rivals, securing the club's first silverware since pipping Inter to the Scudetto in 2022.
Leao has already spoken of a renewed spirit under his Portuguese compatriot, who proudly declared he was not hired to be liked by his players, before smashing a screen during his half-time speech against Juve.
With former coach Paulo Fonseca at the helm, Milan had failed to come from behind even once this season, but they have now done so twice in the space of a few days, building belief that a top-four finish in Serie A is not yet beyond them.
Before heading east last week, the Rossoneri's 1-1 home draw with Roma left them eighth in the top-flight table, but they still have at least one game in hand on most of their fellow challengers for Champions League qualification.
The last Milan manager to win his first three games was all-time great Arrigo Sacchi, back in August 1987, but Conceicao can join that club on Saturday, when the second-city giants meet their favourite opponents.
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So far this century, Cagliari have faced Milan 18 times at San Siro in Serie A, losing on no fewer than 17 occasions. During that time, they have shipped some 46 goals, scoring only 11.
Indeed, either home or away, the Rossoblu are winless in 13 league meetings between two very different clubs, following November's enthralling 3-3 draw down in Sardinia.
That day, Nadir Zortea opened the scoring before Gabriele Zappa proved an unlikely home hero by netting a brilliant second-half brace, and Zortea was also on target last weekend, when Cagliari beat 10-man Monza 2-1.
With his fifth goal of the season, Roberto Piccoli was the matchwinner against the top flight's bottom side, boosting his team's hopes of staying up for a second straight season.
Having lost their last four fixtures of 2024, that result came as a huge relief for head coach Davide Nicola, who is renowned as a survival specialist.
However, Cagliari last won back-to-back league matches in March, and their record at San Siro suggests that claiming maximum points may be a tall order.
Team News
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After making a major impact from the bench in Milan's Super Cup final success, Rafael Leao could be fit enough to start his first game for Sergio Conceicao this weekend.
Cagliari are one of Leao's favourite opponents, with a tally of five league goals against them to date, including one in both of the clubs' last two contests at San Siro.
Recalled from the wilderness, Fikayo Tomori now seems to be first choice at centre-back, while goalkeeper Mike Maignan is the Rossoneri's new captain.
Once again, Noah Okafor, Samuel Chukwueze and Alessandro Florenzi are unavailable through injury, while Emerson Royal must serve a suspension.
Cagliari will travel north without Zito Luvumbo, while Colombian defender Yerry Mina is a slight doubt with an ankle sprain.
Just signed from Napoli in a swap deal involving Simone Scuffet, goalkeeper Elia Caprile could make his debut between the posts.
Up front, Roberto Piccoli should be supported by either Nicolas Viola or Gianluca Gaetano. Piccoli's 18 top-flight goals have remarkably come against 18 different teams, but he has yet to score against Milan in 387 minutes of trying.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Morata
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Adopo, Makoumbou, Augello; Viola; Piccoli
We say: AC Milan 3-0 Cagliari
Fired up by a fresh face in the dugout, Milan are well set to continue their dominance of this week's visitors - albeit they remain far from flawless.
Nearly half the 32 league goals Cagliari have conceded this term followed set pieces - a league high of 14 - so the hosts will surely pay particular attention to that glaring weakness.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
