Preview: Allegri in search of first Serie A points
The most shocking news of the week was arguably Kevin-Prince Boateng’s transfer from Milan to Schalke 04. The Ghanaian midfielder scored twice on Wednesday against PSV to put the Rossoneri into the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stages.
However, news about the potential return of Real Madrid’s Kaka to the San Siro emerged and Boateng immediately left. While it is possible that Brazilian World Cup and Confederations Cup winner Kaka would soon wear the Milan jersey again, the team must currently deal with the sudden departure of Boateng.
For now, Sunday’s hosts are without a win in the Italian Serie A. They kicked off their campaign with a tricky fixture away to newly-promoted side Hellas Verona. The latter, powered by 2006 FIFA World Cup icon Luca Toni, stunned Milan with a 2-1 score line.
Coach Allegri will be positive of getting a good result this weekend, considering his side’s excellent home record against Cagliari. Over the past couple of years, both have clashed thrice at the San Siro with the hosts scoring a total of nine goals and allowing only one.
Cagliari, also, have not scored in their last 180 minutes away to the Rossoneri. However, they have been in fine form this summer and the only defeat in their last five games came against Juventus; it was a narrow one. With two clean sheets in their last two games and a 2-1 win against Atalanta on Matchday 1 of the Italian Serie A, Sunday’s encounter could be close.
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, live scores
Watch Milan vs Cagliari live on Sunday, September 1, 2013:
In Canada at 14:45 ET on: RAI Internazionale
In UK at 19:45 BST on: BT Sport 2
In USA at 14:45 ET on: RAI Internazionale, beIN Sport Play
Several channels from other zones such as Africa, Asia and Europe feature on the TV schedules tab of the Milan-Cagliari match page (where you can also follow live scores from 18:45 GMT).
Probable line-ups
Milan’s starting XI: Abbiati; Sciglio, Mexes, Zapata, Abate; Muntari, Montolivo, Poli; El Shaarawy, Balotelli, Niang
Cagliari’s starting XI: Agazzi; Dessena, Rossettini, Ariaudo, Murru; Cabrera, Conti, Nainggolan; Ekdal, Sau, Pinilla
