Milan Grind It Out and Go Top in Sardinia

Slow start puts Rossoneri under early pressure

AC Milan began the new year with another crucial win, edging past Cagliari 1–0 away from home to temporarily move top of the table. It was not pretty, especially early on, but it was another reminder of Milan’s growing ability to suffer and still take maximum points.

The Rossoneri looked sluggish from the opening whistle and were fortunate not to fall behind inside the first few minutes. Poor clearances and slow reactions allowed Cagliari to create several early shooting chances, but the hosts failed to make their dominance count. Milan were pinned back for long spells and struggled to keep the ball, relying heavily on last-ditch defending and missed chances from the home side.

Despite the pressure, Milan reached half-time level and that proved decisive. Once again, the match turned into a tale of two halves.

Leao strikes as Milan take control

Milan emerged with far greater intent after the break and were rewarded almost immediately. Youssouf Fofana’s clever pass released Adrien Rabiot down the right, and his low cut-back found Rafael Leao at the far post. The winger took one touch and fired home via a slight deflection to score his seventh career goal against Cagliari.

The goal completely changed the rhythm of the game. Milan pushed higher, moved the ball quicker and began to stretch a tiring Cagliari defence. Rather than retreat, Massimiliano Allegri’s side went searching for a second goal, with Davide Bartesaghi forcing a strong save from a long-range free kick.

Control, composure and a clean sheet

Allegri introduced debutant Niclas Füllkrug midway through the second half, followed later by Christian Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia as Milan focused on managing the closing stages. Cagliari faded as the match wore on, while Milan kept possession deep in the opposition half and limited clear chances.

There were late moments of promise for the hosts, but Milan’s defensive shape held firm once again. The clean sheet capped off another professional performance built on patience rather than flair.

Pressure applied at the top

The win sends Milan top of the table for now and increases the pressure on Inter ahead of their match against Bologna. It may not have been convincing, but in tight title races, nights like this often matter the most.