MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 23: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is challenged by Francisco Conceicao and Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 23: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is challenged by Francisco Conceicao and Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Fresh from the Supercoppa Italiana triumph, Sergio Conceicao makes his Serie A debut as Milan coach with Rafael Leao and Alvaro Morata hosting Cagliari.

It kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also known as San Siro, at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Rossoneri sacked Paulo Fonseca on December 30 and brought in Conceicao, who made an extraordinary impact with two comeback wins over Juventus and Inter in Riyadh to lift the Supercoppa Italiana trophy.

Now he has to turn Milan’s Serie A form around too after one win from the last four, but the injury crisis drags on.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered another muscular issue, joining Alessandro Florenzi and Samuel Chukwueze on the treatment table.

Emerson Royal is also suspended and Noah Okafor transfer-listed, but the good news is that Rafael Leao is finally available for his first start under Conceicao, having come off the bench to inspire the 3-2 victory over Inter.

epa11807162 Cagliari's forward Roberto Piccoli jubilates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and Cagliari at U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, 05 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO BREGANI
epa11807162 Cagliari’s forward Roberto Piccoli jubilates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and Cagliari at U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, 05 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO BREGANI

Cagliari saw their run of four consecutive Serie A defeats ended by the morale-boosting 2-1 win away to rock bottom Monza.

It came at a cost, as Yerry Mina and Zito Luvumbo are out injured, so Jose Luis Palomino steps into defence.

Roberto Piccoli is the centre-forward and top scorer with six goals and three assists in 22 competitive games this season.

Elia Caprile is thrown straight into the starting XI after his transfer from Napoli.

When these teams met in November, it was a 3-3 thriller in Sardinia.

Milan vs. Cagliari line-ups

Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Musah, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao

Cagliari: Caprile; Zappa, Palomino, Luperto, Obert; Makoumbou, Adopo; Zortea, Viola, Felici; Piccoli

Player statistic

1st half
    41' Yellow card Mattia Felici
2nd half
Álvaro Morata Goal 51'    
    55' Goal Nadir Zortea
(Assist: Mattia Felici)
Álex Jiménez Yellow card 82'    
    90+1' Yellow card Roberto Piccoli

Match statistic

68
Possession %
32
24
Total shots
6
11
Shots on target
2
10
Shots off target
2
3
Blocked shots
2
9
Corners
1
3
Offsides
5
9
Fouls
11
Milan
Cagliari

Starting lineups

16
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
63'
23
Defender
28
Defender
19
Defender
14
Midfielder
29
Midfielder
80
Midfielder
62'
7
Attacker
11
10
Attacker
88'
25
Goalkeeper
33
Defender
28
Defender
24
78'
19
Defender
6
29
Midfielder
81'
8
Midfielder
10
Midfielder
65'
97
Attacker
81'
91
Attacker

Substitutes

4
Midfielder
46
Defender
57
Goalkeeper
42
Midfielder
31
18
Midfielder
33
73
96
Goalkeeper
90
Attacker
62'
20
Defender
63'
77
88'
30
70
Midfielder
9
16
Midfielder
37
Attacker
31
Goalkeeper
71
Goalkeeper
14
Midfielder
65'
23
Defender
78'
3
Defender
81'
18
Midfielder
81'

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