Played
February 10, 2013 2:00 PM GMT
Stadio Is Arenas — Quartu Sant'Elena
Referee:‬ A. Giannoccaro‎
Attendance:‬ 9500‎
 
Mario Balotelli 82′ (PG)

Cagliari-AC Milan Preview: Red-hot Rossoneri continue surge for third

The Rossoblu may have won their appeal to play at Stadio Is Arenas after Lega Serie A had deemed it unsafe, but the task will not be made any easier against formidable opponents

By Craig Turnbull

Cagliari fans - Is Arenas stadium
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINE-UPS


CAGLIARI
Cagliari
Agazzi
Pisano, Rossettini, Astori, Murru
Dessena, Conti, Ekdal
Thiago Ribeiro
Pinilla, Sau

AC MILAN

Abbiati
Abate, Zapata, Yepes, Constant
Nocerino, Flamini, Boateng
Niang, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Cagliari received a timely boost with the news they will be able to play at their home ground just 24 hours after it had been declared a risk to health and safety. That said, the Rossoblu have not beating the Rossoneri in nearly 15 years, so the challenge on Sunday is no less difficult.

The visitors will be looking to continue their push for third place, while Ivo Pulga's men, buoyed by their shock 4-2 win over Roma last weekend, are four points above the relegation zone and are hoping to further distance themselves from the drop.

Massimiliano Allegri will be without centre-back Daniele Bonera, who has heavy bruising on his thigh. The game may have also came too quick for Massimo Ambrosini, who remains sidelined with a thigh injury. Long-term absentee Nigel de Jong is out for the rest of the season. Riccardo Montolivo is suspended.

Cagliari, meanwhile, have full-back Danilo Avelar and midfielder Radja Nainggolan suspended. Striker Nene is doubtful.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Cagliari go into this clash four games unbeaten, previous to that, however, they had lost four straight Serie A matches.

  • You have to go as far back as October 1998 for Cagliari to have beaten Milan. But they recorded back-to-back victories winning against them in June 1997, too.
  • The Rossoblu have lost 11 of their last 12 encounters with the Rossoneri.
  • AC Milan are on a 20-game unbeaten run against the Rossoblu, including winning their last eight consecutive encounters.

  • Milan were sitting in 12th place in Week 13 in Serie A. Since then, they have picked up 25 points from a possible 30 to go joint-fourth and are the form team in Italy.
  • AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng (pictured, right) has had 63 efforts on goal in Serie A this season, but has found the net once.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 10 Feb 2013 Cagliari 1 - AC Milan 1
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Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 26 Sep 2012 AC Milan 2 - Cagliari 0
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Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 29 Jan 2012 AC Milan 3 - Cagliari 0
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Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 20 Dec 2011 Cagliari 0 - AC Milan 2
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Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ 14 May 2011 AC Milan 4 - Cagliari 1
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Last Five Matches
Cagliari
19 May 2013Cagliari 1 - Lazio 0ITA1
11 May 2013Juventus 1 - Cagliari 1ITA1
8 May 2013Cagliari 0 - Parma 1ITA1
4 May 2013Chievo 0 - Cagliari 0ITA1
27 Apr 2013Cagliari 0 - Udinese 1ITA1
AC Milan
19 May 2013Siena 1 - AC Milan 2ITA1
12 May 2013AC Milan 0 - Roma 0ITA1
8 May 2013Pescara 0 - AC Milan 4ITA1
5 May 2013AC Milan 1 - Torino 0ITA1
28 Apr 2013AC Milan 4 - Catania 2ITA1
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Michael AgazziGoalkeeper
13Davide AstoriDefender
14Francesco PisanoDefender
15Luca RossettiniDefender
29Nicola MurruDefender
5Daniele ContiMidfielder
20Albin EkdalMidfielder
21Daniele DessenaMidfielder
19Thiago RibeiroStriker
23Víctor IbarboStriker
27Marco SauStriker
25Vlada AvramovGoalkeeper
3Lorenzo AriaudoDefender
24Gabriele PericoDefender
34Dario Del FabroDefender
7Andrea CossuMidfielder
16Sebastian ErikssonMidfielder
32Federico CasariniMidfielder
18NenêStriker
51Mauricio PinillaStriker
32Christian AbbiatiGoalkeeper
2Mattia De SciglioDefender
5Philippe MexesDefender
17Cristian ZapataDefender
20Ignazio AbateDefender
4Sulley Ali MuntariMidfielder
16Mathieu FlaminiMidfielder
23Massimo AmbrosiniMidfielder
19L. NiangStriker
45Mario BalotelliStriker
92Stephan El ShaarawyStriker
1Marco AmeliaGoalkeeper
59GabrielGoalkeeper
76Mario Alberto YepesDefender
77Luca AntoniniDefender
2Cristian ZaccardoDefender
8Antonio NocerinoMidfielder
10Kevin-Prince BoatengMidfielder
12Bakaye TraoréMidfielder
7RobinhoStriker
22Bojan KrkicStriker
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese
23 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma
16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Striker
AC Milan
16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta
15 5