AC Milan Leao Returns As Nkunku Misses Trip To Cagliari In Serie A Clash

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that Rafael Leao will be part of the travelling squad for the Serie A trip to Cagliari on Friday, offering a key attacking option as the team look to extend an impressive unbeaten away run this season.

Allegri also faces selection concerns, with Christopher Nkunku ruled out and Christian Pulisic needing further checks, while defensive options are easing as Matteo Gabbia returns and Strahinja Pavlovic recovers from illness before the match at Unipol Domus.

Rafael Leao has completed his recovery phase after several fitness setbacks and rejoined full training earlier in the week, leaving Allegri ready to consider the Portuguese winger for what would be an 11th league appearance of the 2025-26 campaign

following a month without competitive minutes.

An ankle injury has sidelined Christopher Nkunku, who had appeared to find form by scoring a first Serie A brace for AC Milan during the recent 3-0 win over Hellas Verona, while Christian Pulisic’s exact condition remains unclear ahead of final medical checks on 2 January 2026.

Allegri outlined the situation in his pre-match press conference, saying: "Nkunku won't be there due to a problem with his left ankle. Leao is back, but hasn't played for a month, so we'll need to see how many minutes he has in his legs tomorrow. Pulisic trained with the team this morning. His condition will also be evaluated tomorrow. "

The head coach also updated reporters on the defensive group, explaining that recent illness and injury issues are easing, stating: "In the past few days, [Strahinja] Pavlovic has had a fever. He'll come to Cagliari, and he'll play if he is well. [Matteo] Gabbia has recovered and will be on the bench. The important thing is to get everyone back. "

The trip brings Allegri back to a familiar stadium, as the Italian returns to Unipol Domus, where Allegri previously spent three seasons representing Cagliari as a player and then two more as coach between 2008 and 2010 in Allegri’s first managerial experience in Serie A.

Reflecting on that spell in Sardinia, Allegri shared warm memories of the club and city, commenting: "Even though many years have passed, I always remember Cagliari with great affection. I spent five years there, three as a player and two as a coach, so it's stayed in my heart, also because it was my first experience in Serie A as a coach. "

Cagliari come into this fixture boosted by a 2-1 victory over Torino which lifted the team to 14th in the Serie A standings, and Allegri expects a demanding contest in the first game of 2026, highlighting the hosts’ ability to attack space and create danger in the penalty area.

Allegri stressed the need for concentration and discipline, noting: "Tomorrow's match will be a difficult one, because its the first of the year and because the standings are starting to take shape. They play good football and did very well against Torino, breaking quickly and showing quality in the box. We'll need to stay focused for all 90 minutes, plus stoppage time.We have to keep our feet on the ground and our objective must be clear. "

Allegri speaks. You watch First pre-match press conference of 2026, live & free on the AC Milan Official AppAC Milan (@acmilan) January 1, 2026

AC Milan vs Cagliari Serie A players to watch

Cagliari forward Semih Kilicsoy has emerged as a standout young performer, becoming at 20 years and 134 days the youngest player to score both home and away in the 2025-26 Serie A season, and also the club’s youngest player to net in two straight league matches in the three-points-for-a-win era.

Christian Pulisic remains a central attacking figure for AC Milan despite current fitness doubts, having been directly involved in more Serie A goals than any other player in 2025 with 21 contributions, made up of 14 goals and seven assists across the calendar year.

Since arriving in Italy for the 2023-24 season, the American international has reached at least 50 direct goal involvements in Serie A, with 31 goals and 19 assists, making Pulisic one of only two players to hit that mark in the period, alongside Lautaro Martinez, who has 53 contributions.

AC Milan vs Cagliari Serie A stats and match prediction

Milan’s away record provides further confidence for Allegri’s side, as the team are one of just three clubs in Europe’s top five leagues in 2025-26, together with Real Betis and Bayern Munich, who are still unbeaten away from home this season with four wins and three draws.

The Rossoneri could complete eight consecutive away league matches without defeat from the start of a Serie A campaign for only the second occasion in the last 20 seasons, having last managed that sequence during the 2020-21 season, underlining the team’s consistency on the road.

Recent meetings with Cagliari also favour AC Milan, who have avoided defeat in the last 14 top-flight clashes against the Sardinian side, collecting 10 wins and four draws, while among active Serie A teams, Milan’s only longer ongoing unbeaten streak is against Lecce, standing at 15 games.

Milan’s record away to Cagliari since the start of the 2000s further highlights the visitors’ strong position, with just one loss in 20 Serie A away fixtures over that period, alongside 12 victories and seven draws, while a higher road unbeaten percentage has been recorded only against Empoli.

AC Milan away record vs Cagliari in Serie A since 2000

Opponent	Season range	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	Unbeaten percentage
Cagliari	2000-01 to 2025-26	20	12	7	1	95%
Empoli	2000-01 to 2025-26	13	10	3	0	100%

AC Milan vs Cagliari Opta win probability

Outcome	Probability
Cagliari win	18.9%
Draw	22.8%
AC Milan win	58.3%

Based on form trends and historical data, the prediction favours an AC Milan win, with Opta assigning the Rossoneri a 58.3% victory chance, while Cagliari are given 18.9% and the draw stands at 22.8%, pointing towards an away side expected to dominate yet still needing full focus.