Milan's first-half blitz allowed them to sit back in the second, rarely making a significant attempt to add further to the impressive scoreline at the 45-minute mark. Having passed the ball sharply and made repeated incisions through playmaker Diaz - the club's new number 10 - the Rossoneri were deserving of their three-goal victory. Cagliari, meanwhile, were prised open too easily, rendering their apparent attacking threat irrelevant by the time they were well behind.
That's maximum points from the first two game for Pioli's men - keeping pace with Inter. After the upcoming international break, there is a long-awaited return to the Champions League for Milan to look forward to - plus attractive Serie A fixtures against fellow top-four contenders Lazio and Juventus.
Thanks for joining us today and goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'+3'
FULL-TIME: MILAN 4-1 CAGLIARI22:38
90'+2'
Giroud is withdrawn to generous applause, as Castillejo gets to bid a potential farewell to the iconic San Siro.22:38
89'
Intriguingly, Castillejo is limbering up to make a brief appearance. The Spanish midfielder is expected to leave Milan for La Liga in the coming days.22:37
87'
CLOSE! Nearly a fifth goal for Milan, as Rebic manufactures his own opportunity 20 yards from goal, but his powerful strike rises just above the bar. Excellent work from the substitute striker.22:34
85'
Deiola is the latest man to be replaced for Cagliari, with Pereiro coming on in midfield.22:33
85'
After a fruitless day up front, Pavoletti comes off Ceter.22:32
85'
Diaz has earned a rest with that first-half display, so Maldini replaces him for the final few minutes.22:31
84'
Nandez is booked for a crude hack on Hernandez, as the France international tries to break away down the left.22:30
82'
Farias gets to the left touchline and stands a dangerous ball up to the back post, but no Cagliari heads can get to a tantalising cross.22:30
79'
The tempo has reduced to a walking pace at times now, as Milan look to see the game out with the minimum of trouble. Cagliari have improved, but are not exactly breaking down their door.22:27
77'
Nandez goes down easily under a challenge from Hernandez on the right of the Milan area, with the resulting free-kick punched clear by Maignan on the line. Then Lykogiannis' follow-up effort is deflected just wide.22:28
75'
A frustrated-looking Strootman is replaced by Farias.22:22
75'
Dalbert comes off for the final 15 minutes, with Lykogiannis on at left wing-back.22:22
74'
A resigned Semplici is poised to make further changes now, but is surely just going through the motions and resting tired legs.22:21
73'
A late challenge by Diaz earns him a yellow card to slightly take the gloss of his fine contribution so far.22:20
71'
Stefano Pioli (on 59%) has the second-highest win percentage in Serie A with Milan, behind only Lajos Czeizler's 64%. Today, he is set to increase that with another success.22:54
68'
Tonali has put a good shift in today, and is now offered a rest, with Bennacer coming on in his place.22:15
68'
Saelemaekers is withdrawn for new signing Florenzi, who makes another cameo from the bench,22:14
67'
Pioli is set to ring the changes. Leao is first off, to be replaced by Rebic out wide.22:14
66'
Leao sees his effort from the left side of the area deflected wide by Godin's boot and out for a corner - that could be his last act of the game.22:16
64'
Semplici decides to make a change - his first of the game - as Ceppitelli is replaced by Zappa.22:10
62'
Though the referee tried to let Milan play the advantage, Godin keeps too close an eye on Leao and hauls him down, so is booked.22:09
61'
Leao tries to evade the close attentions of velcro-like defender Godin, but the former Inter centre-back ultimately gets his man and hauls the young striker to the turf on the left side of the area.22:08
59'
Two successive Milan corners don't amount to much, but the Rossoneri are at least keeping Cagliari penned back.22:05
57'
Milan have certainly settled into a keep-ball pattern now, with no real need to press forward at this stage of the game. Their opponents are struggling to lay a glove on them.22:03
55'
A raking Marin cross from the right is headed down and wide of the target by Pavoletti, who curses his own inaccuracy. It was, though, not a straightforward chance.22:06
53'
Among all the players who have scored at least five Serie A goals since the start of last season, Milan's Diaz was the only one who had not yet scored in a home game - until today!22:00
51'
Leao just gets under a deep Diaz cross from the right, with the ball skimming the Portuguese forward's head. Milan then win a corner on the left, which comes to nothing.21:58
49'
Some neat footwork and an industrious run by Marin earns Cagliari a corner on the right side of the pitch. However, Milan's defence stand tall to comfortably clear.21:56
48'
Cagliari have lost more Serie A games against AC Milan than against any other side - 43 in total. The Sardinians' last win against the Rossoneri came as long ago as May 2017 - having lost six and drawn two since - and they may have to wait a little while longer.21:52
46'
We are back in action at San Siro, as the second half begins!21:51
Without doubt, Diaz has been the most influential player on the pitch, as he follows on from some promising performances at the end of last term to step into Hakan Calhanoglu's boots on a full-time basis. As Milan's chief creator, the former Real Madrid midfielder is developing into a delight to observe.21:48
A manic first half saw Milan capitalise on some serious defensive frailties in the Cagliari side, as the Rossoneri ruthlessly stride into a 4-1 lead, which surely is already enough to secure a second straight win. The Isolani have been unable to hold onto the ball for any length of time, playing straight into the hands of Stefano Pioli's grateful team. This game could potentially have more goals in store for us after the break. 21:44
45'+2'
HALF-TIME: MILAN 4-1 CAGLIARI21:40
45'
Cagliari are on the ropes and just try to retain possession, limiting the damage before the break. They have been too careless in possession so far and Semplici will demand better in the second period.21:34
43'
THAT'S FOUR! Giroud thunders his spot-kick past Radunovic in the Cagliari goal, as his unstoppable shot puts Milan three goals ahead just before half-time. A breathless 45 minutes! Milan 4-1 Cagliari.
After a brief delay, Strootman is adjudged to have handled the ball just inside the area, so Milan have a chance to add a fourth before half-time!21:30
40'
Strootman is given a yellow card for blocking a goal-bound attempt with his raised arm - right on the edge of the area.21:37
39'
Leao cuts back for Diaz to get a long-range shot off, but it is heavily deflected up and over the bar. Did Strootman use his hand there?21:28
38'
Deiola is booked for a blatant tug on Diaz, who is dictating things in the final third and must apparently be stopped by all means available!21:36
36'
The visitors are growing in confidence after a rocky spell, but Kjaer sees off a cross from the right, before Saelemakers chases back to make a block to loud cheers from the San Siro terraces.21:24
33'
Cagliari press forward through Deiola, who earns a corner following Tonali's block. From Nandez's set-piece, Pavoletti fires a rare chance just wide to the right of Maignan's goal.21:23
31'
Kjaer's header from the centre of the box misses well to the left, following Hernandez's cross from deep.21:19
29'
Giroud sees his shot deflected, then Saelemakers manages to get an effort in at goal but it is charged down by a desperate Godin.21:17
27'
Nandez brings down Leao on the left flank, but nothing comes of the free-kick for Milan.21:16
24'
Now running the game, Diaz provided the pass for Giroud's first Serie A goal at San Siro.21:15
24'
AND ANOTHER! Remarkable scenes in Milan, as Giroud gives the hosts a two-goal lead. Cagliari gift the ball carelessly to the influential Diaz, who finds the former Chelsea striker - he turns and fires left-footed into the top corner. Milan 3-1 Cagliari!
Following that frentic flurry of goals, Cagliari are taking the sting out of the game by trying to keep the ball at the back.21:11
20'
Captain Calabria's right-footed shot from outside the box goes close, but misses to the left of the Cagliari goal, with Diaz playing a part in the build-up.21:09
17'
Leao managed to find Diaz in space just outside the Cagliari box.21:07
17'
INCREDIBLE! Diaz jinks clear to fire a heavily deflected effort past Radunovic, who is left stranded in the visitors' goal. Now the Rossoneri are back in front - end-to-end stuff! It's Milan 2-1 Cagliari.
CAGLIARI ARE LEVEL! Deiola loops a header into the top corner from a clever dinked pass by his captain Joao Pedro, bringing the visitors straight back into the game, Milan's lead lasted barely a couple of minutes! Milan 1-1 Cagliari.
Joao Pedro lofts a cute ball through for Deiola to latch onto for Cagliari's equaliser.21:05
12'
MILAN LEAD! Tonali steps up to the set-piece won by Saelemaekers and confidently curls it right-footed into the top corner of the net. Radunovic got a glove on it, but not enough to keep it out. Milan are 1-0 ahead!
Saelemaekers earns a free-kick in a dangerous position on the right side of the area with a surging run, which ended with force by Godin.20:58
8'
Milan heads are in hands, as Leao streaks clear but dithers over his attempt and is blocked by a desperate Carboni challenge. That should have been 1-0 to the Rossoneri!20:57
6'
Dalbert enters the referee's notebook for his crunching tackle on Kjaer, which was badly timed.20:54
5'
Kjaer is brought crashing to the turf by a crude Dalbert challenge, with Tonali also taken down for good measure! 20:53
4'
Milan are happy to keep possession at the back after a frantic opening spell, with Cagliari mostly sitting off and watching from afar - like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is an onlooker in the stands.20:52
2'
Giroud heads the first half-chance of the game well over the bar, with the Frenchman unable to get off the ground and control his effort.20:49
1'
Referee Marco Serra blows the whistle and we are under way in Milan!20:47
Milan have welcomed their loyal tifosi back to San Siro with a spectacular light show. There are many happy faces around, eager to roar on their team as the teams stride out onto the pitch!20:42
SUBS: Simone Aresti, Alberto Grassi, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Gaston Pereiro, Diego Farias, Giorgio Altare, Eugenio Fusco, Christian Oliva, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Gabriele Zappa, Damir Ceter.20:37
CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Boris Radunovic; Luca Ceppitelli, Diego Godin, Andrea Carboni; Nahitan Nandez, Razvan Marin, Kevin Strootman, Alessandro Deiola, Dalbert; Joao Pedro, Leonardo Pavoletti.20:34
SUBS: Alessandro Plizzari, Ciprian Tatarusanu, Fode Ballo-Toure, Alessandro Florenzi, Matteo Gabbia, Pierre Kalulu, Alessio Romagnoli, Ismael Bennacer, Samu Castillejo, Daniel Maldini, Ante Rebic20:32
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Rade Krunic, Sandro Tonali; Alexis Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud.20:30
Cagliari, meanwhile, travelled north without first-choice goalkeeper Alessio Cragno, who has been ruled out with a muscle injury for the next fortnight. Therefore, Serbian stopper Boris Radunovic deputises at San Siro. Former Inter defender is part of Leonardo Semplici's back three, while captain Joao Pedro partners Leonardo Pavoletti up front. 20:27
The hosts' Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie suffered a muscle injury in training last week and is out of action until after the international break, while star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues his recovery from a serious knee injury and also misses out today. In Zlatan's continued absence, Olivier Giroud is the Rossoneri's centre-forward - supported by Brahim Diaz, Alexis Saelemaekers and Rafael Leao.20:25
As they welcome fans back to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza today, Milan meet opponents that they particularly enjoy encountering: the Rossoneri have not conceded a single goal in their last five Serie A matches versus Cagliari - winning four - and have lost only three of the clubs' 39 meetings on home turf!20:21
Seeking successive wins to start the season, Milan host their Sardinian counterparts after edging out Sampdoria on the opening day. Meanwhile, the visitors were held to a disappointing home draw by Spezia.20:18
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Milan's first home game of the Serie A season, as they meet Cagliari at San Siro!20:16
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Giuseppe Meazza Città: Milano Capienza: 80074 spettatori20:16
Milan - Cagliari is a match of 2 day of the season Serie A 2021/2022. The match will be 29 august at 18:30 in the stadium Giuseppe Meazza in Milano. Referee of Milan - Cagliari will be Marco Serra with the help of Rodolfo Di Vuolo e Andrea Zingarelli. At VAR there will be Marco Guida.
Currently Milan is 4° in the standings with 6 points (thanks of 2 wins, 0 draws and 0 defeats); while Cagliari is 14° in the standings with 1 points (thanks of 0 wins, 1 pareggio and 1 sconfitta). Milan scored 5 goals and conceded 1; Cagliari scored 3 goals and conceded 6.
At home Milan scored 3 points (1 win, 0 draws and 0 losses). Away Cagliari scored 0 points (0 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses). Milan in the last two matches of the season challenged Sampdoria, Cagliari obtaining 6 points thanks to 2 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. Cagliari in the last match of the season challenged Spezi obtaining 1 point. In the last match Milan was against Cagliari winning 4-1 while Cagliari was against Spezia evening 2-2. The best scorer of the team coached by Stefano Pioli is Olivier Giroud with 2 goals while the best scorer of the team coached by Leonardo Semplici is João Pedro with 2 goals.
Milan and Cagliari competed 78 times in the league. In the previous matches Milan won 43 times, Cagliari won 8 times while the number of draw was 27.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Milan-Cagliari You can see the live match Milan-Cagliari here on Virgilio Sport starting 18:30 CET of 29 august. Discover who will broadcast live Milan - Cagliari between Sky and Dazn.
