Cagliari vs AC Milan

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Claudio Ranieri's Cagliari will be in pursuit of their first Serie A triumph of the season as they prepare to host high-flying AC Milan at the Unipol Domus on Wednesday evening.

With just two points gathered from a potential 15, the home team currently occupies the second-to-last spot in the league standings. In contrast, their opponents, AC Milan, are riding high in second place, having secured victory in four out of their first five matches.

Cagliari earned their promotion to Serie A via the Serie B playoffs last season. However, they have grappled with the transition to top-tier football, managing only two wins and suffering three losses to remain winless in the 2023-24 season.

While the Islanders exhibited resilience and determination in goalless draws against Torino and Udinese, they found themselves thoroughly outclassed in defeats to Inter Milan, Bologna, and Atalanta. Their most recent setback came in the form of a 2-0 loss to Atalanta, further extending their winless streak.

Adding to Claudio Ranieri's woes, his team has only managed to score a single goal in five league matches since their promotion. This means that only Empoli, the team at the bottom of the table, has scored fewer goals in Serie A this season.

Notably, Cagliari has registered a mere six shots on target across their opening five matches, underscoring their offensive struggles. The solitary goal for the Islanders in the 2023-24 season was netted by 21-year-old Angolan forward Zito Luvumbo.

Meanwhile, AC Milan secured a 1-0 victory over Hellas Verona in their previous outing, courtesy of Rafael Leao's early eighth-minute strike. As a result, Stefano Pioli's side finds themselves trailing arch-rivals Inter Milan by three points in the early season standings.

Milan's only defeat this season came at the hands of Inter in a humbling 5-1 loss during the Derby della Madonnina earlier in the month. However, Milan initially kicked off their campaign with three consecutive wins, dispatching Bologna, Torino, and Roma while amassing a combined total of eight goals. They have since bounced back from the loss to Inter.

Claudio Ranieri faces the daunting task of shoring up his defense and reinvigorating an attack that has been lackluster at best this season. Cagliari's meager tally of six shots on target in the first five games exemplifies their current position in the league.

Ranieri will have to contend with injuries, as Marko Rog, Gianluca Lapadula, and Gaston Pereiro are all unavailable. Additionally, Elio Capradossi, Alessandro Di Pardo, Jakub Jankto, Jacopo Desogus, and Leonardo Pavoletti are doubtful to feature.

On a positive note, Mateusz Wieteska is back in contention after serving a one-match suspension and could start. Ranieri is expected to stick with the 3-5-2 formation, despite his team's urgent need for points.

Boris Radunovic is likely to start in goal, with a defensive trio consisting of Mateusz Wieteska, Alberto Dossena, and Pantelis Chatzidiakos. Davide Zappacosta and Tommaso Augello are expected to function as wing-backs, often dropping back to form a solid back five when defending.

Alessandro Deiola, Antoine Makoumbou, and Matteo Prati should anchor the midfield, while Eldor Shomurodov and Zito Luvumbo will lead the offensive charge.

The recent humbling loss to Inter Milan served as a wake-up call for Pioli's men, who had to rely on Rafael Leao to secure victory against Hellas Verona in their last outing. Injuries have posed challenges for the Italian giants, limiting their options on the field.

Cagliari finds themselves in a dire situation, having managed to secure only a mere two points from their initial five Serie A matches this season. Their offensive woes are evident, having scored just one goal, a statistic that places them only slightly ahead of Empoli, who languish at the very bottom of the Italian top-flight football hierarchy.

The prospect of a quick turnaround in their fortunes appears increasingly challenging, especially when one considers their historical performance against AC Milan. Cagliari has emerged victorious only once in the last 38 league encounters between these two teams, with Milan consistently dominating the matchup.

Presently, Stefano Pioli's squad holds the second spot in the league standings, but they were subjected to a harsh footballing lesson not long ago at the hands of their arch-rivals, Inter Milan. While they did manage to bounce back with a victory over Hellas Verona in their most recent outing, the Rossoneri still have some ground to cover before they can be considered genuine contenders for the league title.

The forthcoming clash between the second-placed Milan and the team residing at the second-to-last position in the table could potentially have implications for both ends of the Serie A spectrum. Cagliari will be eager to steer their season back on course, while Milan will be determined not to fall further behind Inter as the season progresses.

This matchup promises to be a captivating contest, with the visitors being heavily favored to prevail. In anticipation of Sunday's encounter, The Hard Tackle examines the potential line-ups and tactical approaches for both teams.

Following their fixtures against Bologna, Roma, and the derby, AC Milan now faces Cagliari in their fourth away game of the season. This fixture poses a formidable challenge that demands unwavering commitment. Although Cagliari may be a newly promoted side, they possess a deep familiarity with Serie A football and exhibit considerable strength on their home turf. Given the precarious nature of their current standings, they are likely to give their all, requiring Milan to deliver an exceptional performance to secure a victory.

Notably, AC Milan will be without Rade Krunić for the first time this season. Krunić had featured in every minute of Milan's campaign until his recent injury issue against Verona. His absence poses a unique challenge as Milan adapts to a different midfield setup. While the core principles remain intact despite rotations, there will be a subtle shift in how the regista role is interpreted. Potential replacements for this pivotal position include Adli and Reijnders.

The midfield battle is expected to be crucial, particularly against Cagliari's resolute five-man defense, which is likely to be compact and aggressive. This is where precision and speed will play a pivotal role in breaking through their defensive lines. Overcoming their physicality with technical finesse will be the primary objective. However, Milan will also need to exhibit tenacity, with players like Loftus-Cheek, Musah, and Pobega potentially proving invaluable in this regard.

Despite Cagliari's position as second from the bottom and their limited scoring record, it would be a mistake to underestimate their attacking capabilities. Their main offensive weapon is the pace of Luvumbo, often supported by a robust center-forward such as Shomurodov, Petagna, or Pavoletti. Luvumbo's tendency to drop deeper and receive the ball at his feet adds dynamism to their attack. Consequently, the roles of wingers become even more critical.

AC Milan can count on Hernández's return, Florenzi regaining form, and abundant firepower on the flanks, thanks to Leão's ability to turn the tide. Cagliari also possesses a strong alternative outlet on the wing in Nández. Both coaches seem to share a common strategy of involving their wide players, thereby creating space in midfield to counteract congestion. In this context, unpredictability in attack is essential, but maintaining a vigilant defense, and minimizing any vulnerabilities, will be of paramount importance.