ROSSONERI CRUISE INTO COPPA ITALIA QUARTER-FINALS

What a way to win. The Rossoneri's Coppa Italia campaign - and their calendar year - kicks off with a commanding 4-1 victory at home to Cagliari. Luka Jović starred on the night, bagging a brace, both of which came from assists from an inspired Theo Hernández. The goals in the second half came from Chaka Traorè and Rafa Leão, who came on for the Ivorian to get his first since AC Milan v PSG in November. The youngsters certainly provided the highest nights this evening: Simić, Jiménez, Traorè and Romero all got their first starts, and Zeroli and Bartesaghi got minutes in the second half.

After some early scares, Mirante having produced an excellent stop to deny Petagna, the team grew in courage and confidence as they began to play some brilliant football. Jović was on song; the Serbian has now scored five goals in his last seven appearances in all competitions since 2 December. Well done to the younger lads and a positive performance from the whole team. It was a measured victory to take us through to the quarter-finals, where we will face either Atalanta or Sassuolo (Wednesday 10 January at 21:00 CET). First, though, we have Serie A action against Empoli on matchday 19.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v CAGLIARI

MATCH REPORT
On a cold Milan evening, the first half was lively and entertaining. Mirante’s excellent save from Petagna’s near-post header after four minutes kicked things off. With many debutants in the starting line-up, the Rossoneri eventually got a grip on the game and started to dominate. In the 8th minute, Adli cut the visitors’ defence wide open, playing a lovely ball through for Jović, whose left-footed shot didn't have the power to trouble Radunović. The Sardinians replied on 16 minutes with Makoumbou’s effort failing to find the corner from in front of goal. From then on in, it was all AC Milan, with the lead coming from Luka Jović in the 29th minute; he controlled Theo’s accurate ball up to him, got away from his marker and smashed home with his left from close range past Radunović. The Serbian doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, ending off Hernández’s mazy run, his second assist of the night, which included a nutmeg: sliding to reach the ball, Jović was able to squeeze the ball under the keeper to make it 2-0 going into the break.

The second half opened up with 18-year old Jiménez flashing a powerfully-hit shot just wide with his left. The third goal of the evening came not much long after, though, this time from Traorè, his first senior goal. Followng Chukwueze’s blocked effort, the ball fell to him nicely, and he spun and fired home with his right. On 50 minutes, the game more or less ended as a contest, with the Rossoneri in cruise control as Coach Pioli made his first change: Florenzi for Calabria. Petagna’s header went over before Pulisic and Leão came off the bench: Rafa, roared on by the crowd, tried his luck immediately, but his right-footed attempt went just past the far post for 4-0. The Sardinians reduced the deficit at the end through Azzi, whose shot from distance took a slight deflection off Simić to sneak past Mirante, but it was to be just a consolation. Two minutes into injury-time, Leão finally got on the scoresheet, with a sweetly-struck low drive into the far post: it ended 4-1.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 4-1 CAGLIARI

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mirante; Calabria (61' Florenzi), Simić, Hernández, Jiménez (80' Bartesaghi); Adli, Reijnders (80' Zeroli); Chukwueze, Romero (70' Pulisic), Traorè (70' Leão); Jović. Subs.: Maignan, Nava; Bartesaghi, Kjær, Nsiala; Loftus-Cheek, Zeroli; Giroud. Coach: Pioli.

CAGLIARI (4-3-1-2): Radunović; Di Pardo (72' Zappa), Wieteska, Obert, Hatzidiakos; Deiola, Makoumbou, Jankto (63' Azzi); Mancosu (72' Sulemana); Petagna (63' Pereiro), Luvumbo. Subs.: Aresti, Scuffet; Capradossi, Goldaniga; Viola; Oristanio. Coach: Ranieri.

Referee: Prontera from Bologna.
Goal: 29' Jović (M), 42' Jović (M), 50' Traorè (M), 87' Azzi (C), 92' Leão (M).
Booked: 59' Di Pardo (C), 70' Deiola (C), 88' Azzi (C).

The AC Milan PUMA Kits for 2023/24 are available: buy them now!