Luka Jovic bagged a brace and Chaka Traore scored on his first senior start for Milan before a Rafael Leao cameo, sweeping Cagliari aside to set up a Coppa Italia quarter-final against either Atalanta or Sassuolo.
The Rossoneri were decimated by injuries and rested some big names too, fielding a completely revamped side including several teenagers, giving Jan-Carlo Simic his first start and Alex Jimenez, on loan from Real Madrid, his debut. The Sardinians travelled without Tommaso Augello, Leonardo Pavoletti, Gianluca Lapadula, Nahitan Nandez, Eldor Shomurodov, Alberto Dossena and Marko Rog.
Veteran Antonio Mirante had a rare opportunity in goal and showed great reflexes on Andrea Petagna’s glancing header from an early corner.
Boris Radunovic also denied Jovic’s angled drive after an inspired Yacine Adli through ball and Pantelis Hatzidiakos made a decisive sliding tackle to stop Jovic clear on goal.
Jovic did get the goal eventually, as Theo Hernandez floated a ball in from the left, the striker got between the two centre-backs to control with the inside of the right boot, let it bounce and score the left-foot finish under Radunovic’s legs.
Luka Jović with the breakthrough! 🔴⚫
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 2, 2024
Milan look in control of this cup clash and now they have a goal to show for it 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Iqp54IDux1
Just as Cagliari were putting some pressure on, Milan doubled their lead. Theo Hernandez pounced when Antoine Makoumbou was caught napping on a short pass, sprinted forward and found Jovic from a very tight angle. The finish might even have been going wide if it hadn’t been redirected off Radunovic’s ribs.
Zito Luvumbo fired over on after turning amid a crowd of defenders and Alex Jimenez blasted wide on the half-volley from the edge of the box.
It was the first start at senior level for Chaka Traore and the 19-year-old made the most of it with the third goal. Samuel Chukwueze mis-kicked the Jimenez pull-back, but the teenager fired through a sea of legs on the rebound.
What a moment as Chaka Traorè scores on his full Milan debut! 👏
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 2, 2024
The 19-year-old's emotions tell the story of just how much it means to him 🔴⚫ pic.twitter.com/MXZuyhbivB
Another Petagna header from a corner threatened, this time just over the bar, while substitute Rafael Leao fired a few attempts wide and another straight at the goalkeeper.
Cagliari did get a consolation goal late on when Chukwueze lost the ball cheaply for Paolo Azzi on the counter-attack, his finish deflected past Mirante at the near post off Luvumbo.
Leao finally got one of those efforts on target, cutting inside Zappa to bend into the far bottom corner with the inside of the right boot.
Rafael Leão puts the icing on the cake! 🙌
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 2, 2024
A 4-1 win for Milan and they're through to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Finals 🔴⚫ pic.twitter.com/YuX9426srI
Milan 4-1 Cagliari
Jovic 29, 42 (M), Traore 50 (M), Azzi 87 (C), Leao 91 (M)
Player statistic
| Luka Jovic (Assist: Theo Hernández) |
 |
29' | ||
| Luka Jovic (Assist: Theo Hernández) |
|
43' |
| Chaka Traorè | |
50' | ||
| 59' |  |
Alessandro Di Pardo | ||
| 70' | |
Alessandro Deiola | ||
| 88' | |
Paulo Azzi (Assist: Adam Obert) | ||
| 89' | |
Paulo Azzi | ||
| Rafael Leão (Assist: Christian Pulisic) |
|
90+2' |
Match statistic
