Match Preview: Cagliari vs AC Milan
Tomorrow the Rossoneri are taking on the Rossoblu at Sardegna Arena in Cagliari, Italy. The Milan squad (2 matches played, 3 points) is looking to leap further up the table after their win last week against Roma. All the way from their current position at 15th to 5th if they win by more than one goal. Cagliari (3 matches played, 4 points) pulled off a draw against Sassuolo and one could say an upset over Atalanta. If they were to pull off another one here, they could see their table position move from 11th to 4th and get a surprisingly good start to the season.
Both teams are coming off a win, and both were the underdogs heading into that match. The Red Devils are hungry for another win, several players are looking to prove themselves in a Milan jersey and some are looking to solidify places in the starting eleven.
Gonzalo Higuain is yet to score for Milan in the Serie A, granted it has only been two games. However the Argentinian is always hungry for goals and tends to be frustrated if he can't find the back of the net (especially if one of his goals are called off, like last match). Lucky for "Il Pipita", he'll be facing one of his favorite victims this round in Cagliari. In 7 matches against them in his Serie A career, Higuain scored 6 times. Higuain will also likely have the support of Suso on the right wing and Calhanoglu on left wing, giving him two great playmakers to feed him.
Along with Calhanoglu, Higuain, and Suso to form the front three, the probable rest of the lineup consists of: Donnarumma, Calabria, Romagnoli, Musacchio, Rodriguez, Kessie, Biglia and Bonaventura. However, it's possible for a change to the starting lineup before the final decision is made tonight; and there are also those looking for a chance off the bench.
It's been discussed that Diego Laxalt could get his first Serie A start with Milan. The left back has trained well with the Rossoneri and has also performed with quality in his showings on the pitch. The Uruguayan international is rather speedy and also has a tendency to create as much as defend from the left flank. If Laxalt doesn't get a start, he'll more than likely be making an appearance off the bench.
Looking to make an impact off the bench are both Mattia Caldara and Tiemoue Bakayoko. Caldara is yet to make an official appearance for Milan since joining from Juventus in exchange for Leonardo Bonucci. It’s been said by both Gattuso and Caldara himself that it’s taking him some time to get used to playing in a 4 Man defense. He’s getting better in training, and enjoying getting accustomed to Milan. Hopefully he gets his first taste of game time in Red and Black on Sunday. Bakayoko will also have a desire to get some show time. He wasn’t very convincing in his first start with Milan and hasn’t gotten another opportunity since, and it won’t be any different versus Cagliari. If Gattuso decides to give him a chance as a sub, Bakayoko will most certainly be looking to make the most out of it.
Gattuso will surely be missing the likes of striker Patrick Cutrone. The young Italian injured his left ankle in an international friendly with the Italy U-21 team versus Albania this past Tuesday. Although the injury fortunately isn’t too serious, Cutrone was pulled out of the friendly and will miss the match against Cagliari for Milan. Gattuso will have to adjust part of his game plan accordingly, he will likely use Borini as a sub if needed. Or perhaps he could give Frank Tsadjout, from the Milan youth program, his first appearance with the Senior team as the youngster is included in the official match call-up.
