AC Milan will face a highly motivated Cagliari team today. Coached by Walter Mazzarri, the Sardinia-based club is desperate to get points after losing last week against Spezia 2-0. The danger of relegation is right there and getting a positive result starting from the clash against the Rossoneri will be a great way for them to break away and enter a safer zone.
The 17th-placed team has 25 points collected after playing 29 games. They have conceded 53 goals and scored 28. But, this negative record and the recent loss could serve as a real motivation for them to play in the best possible way. At home, and in front of their fans, they will certainly be looking to be compact and hit Milan on counter attacks and set-pieces. The red and black faithful, guided by Stefano Pioli, will have to be careful and attentive in both phases.
The idea for the Rossoneri is to try and find an early goal before the game gets complicated. Ideally, Milan must not drop back after scoring. But, they must know when to apply pressure and when not to. The clear-cut scoring chances must not be wasted. The fixture must be put to bed early on to save energy and be able to see the game out with less damage done to Pioli's side as they are in a crucial phase of the league.
It is not excluded that Stefano Pioli may have to change his lineup a little with Rade Krunic tipped to start from the first minute as the attacking midfielder behind Olivier Giroud. But, Brahim Diaz who suffered a blow earlier also has a strong chance of starting as the number 10. It is a close race between the Bosnian and the Spaniard.
Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessié, on the other hand, will be partnering up in the middle of the field. Sandro Tonali who suffered from a slight fever will still be available on the team sheet, however.
What the AC Milan team has been missing in the last few games is the lack of offensive creativity. With Brahim Diaz out of form, Pioli does not have many choices in that role as he prefers someone who can dribble well and play between the lines in order to support the wingers and centre-forward.
It will be tricky fixture for the Rossoneri to overcome but it is obviously not impossible. At this stage of this season, and considering where AC Milan are in the league table, they must be available from a mental point of view: if a player feels ready physically and also mentally for what would be a battle on the pitch, then he is more likely to follow the coach's instructions in a calm and concentrated manner.
The game will be very important today, and as Stefano Pioli said in the press conference: "The most important victory is always the next one that shall arrive."
The hosts shall play with this lineup to face Il Diavolo team:
3-5-2: Cragno; Goldaniga, Lovato, Altare; Bellanova, Deiola, Grassi, Marin, Dalbert; Keita, Joao Pedro
As for the visitors, AC Milan, here are the likely choices for Stefano Pioli:
4-2-3-1: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kalulu, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Kessie; Messias, Krunic (or Brahim Diaz), Leao; Giroud
