Pavoletti goes inches away from equalising! A last-minute corner is swung into the heart of the Milan penalty area and perfectly picks out Pavoletti, who gets his head on the ball and sends it agonisingly wide of the near post. What a chance that was!
90' +4
L. Cigarini gets yellow.
Milan deal with another attempted Cagliari attack and Biglia quickly pushes forward, but he's brought down from behind by a late, lazy challenge from Cigarini, who receives a late booking.
90' +3
Cragno blasts the ball deep inside the Milan half of the pitch and forces Abate into nodding the ball out for a throw-in. It's taken quickly before a cross is curled into the middle of the box, where Pavoletti battles for the ball but can't quite get a head on it.
90' +1
Farago charges down the right flank on another good run before swinging a cross into the Milan box. The wing-back's pass manages to pick out Deiola, but the substitute can't make decent contact with the ball and sends it bouncing straight into the hands of Donnarumma at the near post.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.
88'
N. Barella gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD! And now Cagliari have been reduced to 10 men! Barella sticks out a leg and ends up catching Biglia with a mistimed challenge on the halfway line, resulting in the goalscorer being given his marching orders. Huge relief for Milan!
87'
Almost a chance for Farago! A lovely cross is fired into the Milan penalty area from the left flank and looks set to pick out Farago at the far post, but, despite his best efforts, the wing-back can't quite get to the ball just a few yards away from goal.
86'
F. Borini enters the game and replaces F. Kessié.
Milan have made their third and final alteration, with Fabio Borini coming on to replace Kessie.
84'
Calhanoglu goes close to making it 3-1! The Turkey international twists and turns as he takes on Deiola, and he's eventually tripped to the ground by the Cagliari substitute. Milan are awarded a free-kick and it's Calhanoglu who takes, sending his bouncing effort just wide of the near post.
82'
I. Abate enters the game and replaces Suso.
With Rodriguez off the pitch, Suso has understandably been replaced by Ignazio Abate.
Minute
Description
81'
L. Pavoletti gets yellow.
The resulting free-kick is swung into the middle of the Milan box and towards Pavoletti, who rises high and catches Kalinic with a flailing arm as he battles for the ball. The Cagliari forward reacts angrily to the referee's decision to award the visitors a free-kick, and he's shown a yellow card for dissent.
80'
R. Rodríguez gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD! Milan are down to 10 men! Farago causes problems deep down the right flank as he charges into a good position near to the byline. He then cuts inside and takes on Rodriguez, who clumsily catches the wing-back and leaves the referee with no choice but to show him a second yellow card.
79'
Cagliari are unable to carve out a chance on goal and Milan quickly try to hit them on a counter-attack. Locatelli breaks through the middle of the pitch and sets up Suso, who charges into the box but is well dealt with by Farias before hauling him to the ground.
77'
A. Cossu enters the game and replaces S. Padoin.
Meanwhile, Cagliari have brought on Andrea Cossu to replace Padoin.
76'
M. Locatelli enters the game and replaces G. Bonaventura.
Milan have made their first alteration of the game, with Bonaventura making way for Manuel Locatelli.
75'
Pisacane goes close to equalising! The resulting set-piece is a really dangerous one and bounces around the box before falling to Pavoletti. The striker's shot is closed down well but bounces over to Pisacane, who tries to get the better of Donnarumma from close range but can't quite beat him.
74'
Farago bursts down the right wing before being caught by a late sliding challenge from Calhanoglu, presenting Cagliari with a good opportunity to launch the ball into the box. The cross is a good one and causes a few problems for the visitors, but Kalinic is there to nod the ball behind for a corner at the far post.
72'
A. Deiola gets yellow.
Bonaventura brings an end to an attempted Cagliari attacking move and quickly tries to break forward, but he's immediately clattered into by Deiola and sent crashing to the ground, resulting in the referee's yellow card being drawn once again.
71'
Milan have largely been on the back foot during the last 10 minutes or so, but they push forward through Rodriguez over on the left flank as they try to increase their lead. The full-back skips past his marker and unleashes a thumping strike, but it's easily blocked and loops up into the air. Kessie is able to get on the end of it, but his follow-up effort is totally mishit and trundles well wide of the goal before he's eventually flagged offside.
69'
Farias picks up the ball just outside of the Milan penalty area and looks set to charge into the box and shoot, but Romagnoli does well to stick out a foot and deny the Brazilian a way past him. Cagliari are continuing to knock on the door but, so far, without any luck.
67'
Cagliari continue to go on the front foot as they keep knocking the ball around inside the visitors' half of the pitch. This time it's Padoin who gets himself into a good position just outside of the Milan box, where he goes down under a tackle from Biglia. He immediately grabs the ball and expects to be awarded a free-kick, but the decision goes the other way and leaves the wing-back incredibly frustrated.
65'
N. Barella gets yellow.
Cagliari clumsily lose the ball once again and present Milan with a chance to counter-attack, but Lucas Biglia is caught by a late challenge from Barella and the latter becomes the latest player to receive a booking.
64'
Cagliari are trying their hardest to get back into the game, but it isn't quite working for them when they're in possession. Once again Pisacane is able to get himself into a good position inside the Milan half of the pitch, but his pass over to the left wing is poor and rolls out for a throw-in.
62'
A. Deiola enters the game and replaces A. Ioniţă.
Cagliari have made their second change of the game, with Alessandro Deiola coming on to take the place of Ionita.
61'
Opportunity for Milan to increase their lead! Kessie storms through the middle of the pitch before sending a lovely pass into the right-hand side of the Cagliari penalty area. Suso darts onto it and fizzes a pass across the face of goal, but it's slightly overhit and forces Calhanoglu into firing his strike well wide of the goal.
59'
Cagliari cause problems again! The home side go route one once again as they try to pick out Pavoletti on the edge of the Milan box. Donnarumma rushes out to meet the ball and ends up flapping it down to Farias, who quickly shoots but can't quite hit the target with his low effort.
57'
Almost a chance for Cagliari to equalise! The free-kick is a good one and causes problems for Donnarumma, who unconvincingly punches the ball behind for a corner. He's then unable to deal with the set-piece, which is fired towards the near post and initially fumbled by the goalkeeper before eventually being blasted away from danger.
56'
R. Rodríguez gets yellow.
Ouch! A lovely, lofted pass is fired over to the right flank and finds Paolo Farago in a great position just outside of the penalty area. The wing-back looks set to burst inside and shoot, but he's quickly clattered into by a cynical challenge from Rodriguez and is instead awarded a free-kick.
55'
Milan have started the second half the way they ended the first, with Kessie in particular doing well when pushing forward. Cagliari themselves are trying to pile bodies forward as they try to find a way back into the game, and that's leaving space available to the Rossoneri.
53'
Great save by Cragno! Bonaventura is picked out in a pocket of space 25 yards away from goal and quickly shoots. His thumping strike looks set to find the back of the net, but a fly stop from Cragno parries it behind for a corner.
51'
Bonaventura bursts into the left-hand side of the Cagliari box and tries to get a cross away, but he's closed down by Romagna and has to settle for a corner. The set-piece is poorly executed, however, and it's easily cleared by the home side.
49'
Simone Padoin is tripped over by Calabria, and Cagliari are awarded a free-kick in a decent position out wide. The cross is a good one and looks set to find a red and blue shirt, but Romagnoli is fouled on the edge of the box and the attack comes to nothing.
47'
Early chance for Kessie! Milan immediately go on the front foot from the restart and set up the Ivorian to test Cragno from 25 yards out, but his low effort isn't hit well enough and rolls a yard or so wide of the far post.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +3
Bonaventura spots Cragno off his line and quickly tries to catch out the goalkeeper with an audacious effort from 50 yards out, but he's unable to do so and fires his strike several yards wide of the goal. That should be that.
45' +2
Cagliari remain on the front foot as we near half-time, but they're struggling to give Donnarumma much to do in the Milan goalmouth. A lofted pass is fired up towards the penalty area and into the path of Pavoletti, who battles with Alessio Romagnoli and ends up giving away a free-kick after catching the defender in the face with a flailing arm.
45'
Suso gets yellow.
Suso becomes the latest player to receive a booking after being penalised for a late - and slightly cynical - challenge on the halfway line.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
44'
Cagliari quickly go on the front foot from the restart as they try to find an equaliser before the half-time break, but Milan have plenty of bodies back and are comfortably able to snuff out the danger.
42'
F. Kessié has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by N. Kalinić.
Kalinic did well to hold off his marker with his back to goal before setting up Kessie, who then had no trouble finding the back of the net for the second time this half. Cagliari have enjoyed a few bright moments but now find themselves largely on the back foot.
GOAL! It's another for Kessie! Milan are finally able to find a way in front after more good play by the Ivorian. This time it was Kalinic who received the ball inside the box and immediately tapped it back to Kessie, who then curled a lovely strike past Cragno and into the back of the net.
41'
And now Kalinic goes close! Kessie charges into the right-hand side of the hosts' penalty area and does really well to out-muscle a group of defenders. He then pokes the ball over to Kalinic, who quickly shoots but sends his tame effort into the hands of Cragno.
40'
Chance for Calhanoglu to make it 2-1! Suso, who is starting to get much more involved in the game, cuts inside from the right flank and pokes a delightful ball into the box. Calhanoglu rushes onto it and shoots from the near post, but Cragno pulls off a decent save before the linesman's flag is eventually, and correctly, raised.
39'
The corner is a poor one, and Cagliari are forced into playing the ball all the way back to Cragno. The wind then causes all sorts of problems for the goalkeeper, who tries to blast the ball over to Farias but ends up sending it out for a throw-in.
38'
Barella charges into space over on the left wing before being hauled back by Leonardo Bonucci, who gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position. Cigarini steps up and chips a cross towards Barella, who gets the better of Bonaventura but has to settle for a corner after his cross is deflected out of play.
36'
Penalty goal scored by F. Kessié for AC Milan!
GOAL! Kessie steps up and is comfortably able to find the back of the net, handing his side a much-needed equaliser!
35'
PENALTY! The ball bounces dangerously around the edge of the Cagliari penalty area as Milan push forward once again. Bonaventura is eventually able to bring it down under his control before poking it into the path of Kalinic, who tries to shoot but is hauled down by Ceppitelli before he's able to do so, resulting in the referee immediately pointing to the spot.
33'
Milan are certainly doing much better as we near the final 10 minutes of the first half. They're showing a bit more belief in advanced areas, and the home side now find themselves on the front foot as they try to protect their slender lead.
31'
Milan win themselves a free-kick in a promising position, and it's whipped into a dangerous area by Calhanoglu, who forces Luca Ceppitelli into nodding the ball behind a corner. The second set-piece is even better than the first, but Kalinic can't quite make decent enough contact with his head after latching onto the ball in front of goal.
29'
Excellent opportunity for Cagliari to make it 2-0! Luca Cigarini sends a wonderful pass into the Milan box and straight to Farias. The Brazilian cuts onto his right foot and shoots, but his low strike is well blocked by Donnarumma. The ball then bounces over to Leonardo Pavoletti, who unleashes a strike of his own but sends it far too high.
27'
N. Kalinić gets yellow.
Kalinic seemed to catch the arm of Cragno as he tried to get a shot away, and the Cagliari defenders didn't seem too happy with what they saw as being a late and cynical kick from the striker. The referee agrees and shows him a yellow card.
26'
Great chance for Kalinic! Rodriguez wins the ball back midway inside the Cagliari half of the pitch and Milan quickly hit the home side on the break. Bonaventura swings a dangerous cross into the middle of the penalty area and towards Kalinic, who battles for the ball under pressure but is beaten to it by Cragno.
24'
Thumping strike by Franck Kessie! Milan work the ball around nicely once again before the Ivorian is teed up in a pocket of space just outside of the hosts' box. He quickly unleashes a rocket of a shot, but it's brilliantly saved by an acrobatic leap from Cragno.
22'
Great interception by Pisacane! Milan move the ball around much better and are able to set up Giacomo Bonaventura to fire a low pass across the face of goal. It looks set to pick out the onrushing Kalinic, but Pisacane sticks out a foot and just about manages to poke the ball behind for a corner.
21'
It's all gone a bit flat inside the Cagliari half of the pitch, where after starting relatively brightly, Milan are struggling to assert themselves. Suso and Kalinic are both finding it difficult to get into the game, with hopeful balls forward failing to pick them out in decent positions.
19'
Diego Farias enters the game and replaces M. Sau.
Sau receives a rousing round of applause from the home fans as he gingerly makes way for Farias.
18'
Sau makes his way back onto the pitch and immediately flies forward on a marauding run, but he pulls up as soon as he reaches the Milan penalty area and kicks the ball out of play in frustration. His game is definitely over.
16'
There are some concerned faces on the Cagliari bench, as Marco Sau has gone down off the ball and looks to be in a lot of discomfort. Diego Farias is currently getting ready but it looks as if the captain might be able to continue.
14'
Cagliari certainly are causing problems for their visitors whenever they push forward. This time it's Simone Padoin who is able to get a shot away before Ionita unleashes a follow-up, but there's far too much power behind his effort and it sails high over the crossbar.
12'
Suso and Calabria try to link up once again after the full-back darts down the right wing on a marauding run, but Pisacane does well to dart across the box and thump the ball away from danger before the youngster can get a shot away.
10'
Milan immediately try to get back into the game from the restart, but, after good play by Suso out wide, Calabria can't quite pick out Kalinic with a bouncing cross into the heart of the penalty area and Cagliari are able to hold on.
8'
N. Barella has scored a goal for Cagliari! Assist by A. Ioniţă.
GOAL! Cagliari lead! A bit of space opens up for the home side and they immediately make it count. Artur Ionita muscles his way through the middle of the pitch before teeing up Nicolo Barella, who cuts inside from the left, beats Davide Calabria and curls a lovely effort into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. Gianluigi Donnarumma should have done much better, mind!
That was really good, determined play by Ionita to barge his way through a sea of white shirts, but Milan should have done much better defensively. Calabria didn't close down Barella quickly enough and Donnarumma totally mistimed his dive.
6'
Ricardo Rodriguez charges down the left flank before being clumsily tripped to the ground, resulting in a free-kick for Milan in a promising position. It's Hakan Calhanoglu who steps up and unleashes a looping cross-cum-shot, and it's one that forces Alessio Cragno into acrobatically punching the ball away from danger.
4'
Milan quickly win the ball back from the restart and push forward on another determined attacking move. Once again, a lofted pass is fired into the Cagliari penalty area and towards Kalinic, but this time it's Filippo Romagna who is able to beat the striker to the ball.
2'
Vital interception by Fabio Pisacane! Milan immediately go on the front foot and do well to put plenty of early pressure on the home side. Suso cuts inside from the right wing and launches a dangerous cross into the middle of the box, where Pisacane is just about able to get to the ball ahead of Nikola Kalinic.
1'
We're off! Cagliari get us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Serie A game between Cagliari and AC Milan at the Sardegna Arena.
December proved to be another disappointing month for Milan, who managed to win just one of the five Serie A clashes that took place during that period, leaving them on a three-game winless run at the end of the year. They managed to start 2018 on the front foot, however, and despite not quite being at their best in a 1-0 win at home to Crotone, they were nonetheless able to give themselves a much-needed boost.
Milan’s miserable season can can be summed up by the fact that they haven’t managed to win back-to-back league games since September, and a victory today is simply a must for Gennaro Gattuso’s stuttering side. Just two wins in eight games has left the Rossoneri down in 10th place, but success against their Sardinian opponents this afternoon would send them up to seventh.
While you never quite know what you’re going to get from an erratic Milan side, today’s game arguably presents them with a good opportunity to climb back up the table. Cagliari impressed in a 2-1 win against Atalanta earlier in the month but have only one victory from their last seven Serie A outings, although during that difficult period they had to face Inter, Roma and Juventus.
A run of three defeats in four games has left Cagliari just four points clear of the relegation zone after SPAL managed to hold Udinese to a 1-1 draw earlier this afternoon. A win would send them above struggling Chievo and into 13th place, and they’ll have fond memories of the last time they took on Milan at home, as Fabio Pisacane popped up late on to earn his side their first victory against the Rossoneri since 1998.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this this afternoon…
Milan substitutes: Gabriel, Silva, Borini, Zapata, Montolivo, Abate, Musacchio, Paletta, Antonelli, Cutrone, Locatelli, Antonio Donnarumma.
Milan XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Calabria, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessie, Biglia, Bonaventura; Suso, Kalinic, Calhanoglu.
Cagliari substitutes: Rafael, Van der Wiel, Andreolli, Dessena, Cossu, Giannetti, Castan, Farias, Crosta, Deiola.
Diego Lopez has decided to make two changes to the Cagliari side that lost against Juventus in their final game before the winter break, with Alessio Cragno and Marco Sau coming into the starting line-up to replace Rafael and Diego Farias.
Meanwhile, Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso has made just one alteration to the team that featured in their last outing, with young striker Patrick Cutrone making way for Nikola Kalinic, who has only scored one league goal since October.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: CAGLIARI 1-2 MILAN
The game started poorly for Milan when Barella was able to fire the home side into an early lead, but they've done well to fight back and head into the half-time break with the scoreline at 2-1. The Rossoneri haven't been at their best this afternoon but have impressed enough when pushing forward, with Kalinic and Kessie both starting to get more involved in front of goal. The Ivorian's movement has caused problems for the Cagliari defence, and both of his finishes were good enough to leave Cragno scrambling.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: CAGLIARI 1-2 MILAN
It sure was a nervy end to the game for Milan, who had their backs against the wall for much of the final quarter of an hour. However, they were just about able to hold on to pick up all three points, and the hard-earned victory is their first away from home since October. It's also the first time they've won back-to-back league games since September, setting them up nicely for next weekend's huge clash at home to Lazio.
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