Milan - Cagliari --
Football Italia previewMilan will be hoping to keep up their late push for Champions League qualification with another win when they host Cagliari at the San Siro. The Sardinian visitors will also be eyeing the points though, as they seek to stay clear of the relegation battle.
The Rossoneri have hit form at the right time this season after already making a late storming run into the top four, they are now edging their way closer to Lazio in third place. Three consecutive wins, during which they have scored an impressive 11 goals, means the Diavoli will be full of confidence going into the final stages of their campaign. After the 5-2 thrashing of Ascoli in midweek Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be expecting another comfortable performance here.
Ancelotti has just one absence to contend with, but it could be a crucial one. First-choice goalkeeper Nelson Dida is still out injured after already missing the victory over Ascoli. With the Brazilian absent, Zeljko Kalac is expected to continue to deputise between the posts ahead of January signing Marco Storari. Gennaro Gattuso seems likely to be rested again with Massimo Ambrosini taking his place, while Marek Jankulovski is expected to get the nod ahead of Kakha Kaladze at left-back.
Winger Mauro Esposito is unlikely to play any part in the rest of Cagliari’s season and is now joined in the treatment room by Tiziano Bruzzone, Leonardo Colucci and Alessandro Conticchio. Those absences mean Alessandro Budel and Antonino D’Agostino should keep their places in midfield, while Andrea Capone looks set to get the nod up front ahead of Simone Pepe and Antonio Langella. Paolo Bianco is suspended, with youngster Michele Canini expected to start in his place.
There may be five places between themselves and the relegation zone, but with just the same number of points filling the gap the Rossoblu won’t be feeling safe just yet. Parma’s resurgence has put a number of teams in the bottom half’s position in doubt, and they will be looking to continue their impressive form to keep the relegation battle at arm’s length.
Man on fire:
Alberto Gilardino (Milan) – Just like the Milan team as a whole, Gilardino has hit form at the perfect time. The ex-Parma hitman has brushed aside the criticism he has received this season with some clinical finishing recently, scoring four times in four Serie A appearances.
Last season: Milan 1-0 Cagliari
Form guide:
Milan (W D W W W) Cagliari (L W W D L)
Milan (probable): Kalac; Oddo, Bonera, Nesta, Jankulovski; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Gilardino, Ronaldo
Cagliari (probable): Chimenti; Ferri, Lopez, Canini, Agostini; Biondini, Conti, Budel, D’Agostino; Suazo, Capone