Rafael Leao will be available for AC Milan’s trip to Cagliari on Friday, as confirmed by coach Massimiliano Allegri.
The Portuguese winger, who has faced various physical issues this season, resumed full training earlier this week and is expected to make his 11th league appearance. However, Christopher Nkunku will miss the match due to an ankle injury he sustained after scoring his first goals in Serie A for AC Milan during the team’s 3-0 victory over Hellas Verona. Christian Pulisic’s condition remains uncertain.
“Nkunku won’t be available due to a left ankle issue,” Allegri stated during the pre-match press conference. “Leao is back, but since he hasn’t played for a month, we need to assess how many minutes he can manage tomorrow. Pulisic trained with the team this morning, and we will evaluate his fitness as well.”
In addition to these updates, Allegri mentioned that Strahinja Pavlovic had a fever but is expected to travel to Cagliari and will play if he is fit. Matteo Gabbia has recovered and will be on the bench, emphasizing the importance of having a full squad.
Allegri returns to a familiar ground at Unipol Domus, where he spent three years as a player and two as a coach between 2008 and 2010. “Even after all these years, I have fond memories of Cagliari,” he said. “I spent five years there, and it was my first experience in Serie A as a coach.”
Looking ahead to the match against his former club, currently positioned 14th in the league after a 2-1 victory over Torino, Allegri acknowledged the challenge of the game. “Tomorrow will be a tough match, as it’s the first of the year and the standings are beginning to take shape. They play a good style of football and showcased their capabilities against Torino. We need to stay focused for the entire 90 minutes plus injury time and keep our feet on the ground with a clear goal in mind.”
Cagliari has a promising young talent in Semih Kilicsoy, who, at 20 years and 134 days, has become the youngest player to score both at home and away in Serie A for the 2025/26 season, demonstrating remarkable potential. For AC Milan, Christian Pulisic has been a standout performer, contributing to the highest number of goals in Serie A this season with 21, showcasing his critical role in the team’s offense.
Predictions lean in favor of AC Milan, as they are one of only three teams in the top five European leagues for the 2025/26 season that remain unbeaten away from home (4 wins and 3 draws). The Rossoneri could maintain an unbeaten record in their first eight away games of the season for only the second time in the last 20 years. They have also not lost to Cagliari in their last 14 competitive matches (10 wins and 4 draws), highlighting a strong historical advantage.
Opta’s victory probabilities have assessed the situation as follows: Cagliari at 18.9%, a draw at 22.8%, and AC Milan at 58.3%, reflecting confidence in the Milanese side’s ability to secure a win.