Serie A official line-ups: Cagliari vs. AC Milan

02.01.2026 21:40

Rafael Leao returns with Luka Modric and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as AC Milan visit Cagliari with Sebastiano Esposito and Semih Kilicsoy.

It kicks off at the Unipol Domus at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

This is the opening Serie A match of 2026 and a victory would see the Rossoneri temporarily leapfrog Inter to go top of the table.

Fresh from their win over Hellas Verona, new signing Niclas Fullkrug is on the bench for the first time after his loan move from West Ham United.

He might be called upon too, as Christopher Nkunku is out with an ankle injury, with Santiago Gimenez a long-term absentee after surgery.

Matteo Gabbia is not at 100 per cent either and Strahinja Pavlovic is struggling with flu symptoms, while Christian Pulisic is suffering from a flexor twinge.

That means Leao returns to the starting XI after a muscular issue, supported by Ruben Loftus-Cheek in a more advanced role.

Davide Bartesaghi has to fill the gap in defence, so Pervis Estupinan goes wide.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 18: Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan controls the ball during the Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at King Saud University Stadium on December 18, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Cagliari have found some decent form lately, beating 10-man Roma and Torino, even if they were held to a 2-2 draw by Pisa and lost to Atalanta.

Turkish talent Semih Kilicsoy took a long time to earn his place in the starting XI, but has really made the most of it lately, scoring in his last two games.

Zito Luvumbo and Joseph Liteta are back in the squad after early elimination from AFCON, with Yerry Mina and Juan Rodriguez also available again.

It means only Michael Folorunsho, Mattia Felici and Andrea Belotti are out of action, though Alessandro Deiola is not at 100 per cent.

Cagliari have not beaten Milan since a 2-1 result in May 2017, scraping only four draws and 11 defeats between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

However, both last season’s meetings were stalemates, 3-3 in Sardinia and 1-1 at San Siro.

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 27: Semih Kilicsoy of Cagliari Calcio is challenged by Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC during the Serie A match between Torino FC and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on December 27, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)