GdS: Predicted XIs for Cagliari vs. Milan – Allegri forced to adapt with a 3-5-1-1

AC Milan will play their first Serie A match of the new year in Sardinia on Friday night, taking on Cagliari.

Milan have established themselves as Scudetto contenders as we approach the halfway point in the campaign, but a potential season-defining stretch of games is approaching. It starts with a trip to face Cagliari away from home, a side that are looking to achieve safety more comfortably.

Cagliari vs. Milan: Predicted starting XIs

As always for Massimiliano Allegri this season, it is a battle against various selection issues. The coach confirmed during his presser that Christopher Nkunku will miss out with an ankle issue, while Christian Pulisic is not 100% and Strahinja Pavlovic has a fever.

Niclas Füllkrug could make his debut, and Matteo Gabbia is also well enough to be on the bench. The other good news is that Rafael Leao is now back and – at least per the coach’s words – he is well enough to start.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), it will be a three-man defence for Milan of Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter and Pavlovic, with Mike Maignan between the posts. Alexis Saelemaekers and Davide Bartesaghi should be the wing-backs.

Youssouf Fofana returns to the midfield trio with Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot to his left. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to act behind Leao in a 3-5-1-1 system.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Leao.

Predicted bench: Terracciano, Pitarella, Athekame, Gabbia, Odogu, Estupinan, Jashari, Ricci, Castiello, Füllkrug, Pulisic.

Predicted Cagliari XI (4-2-3-1): Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Adopo, Deiola; Palestra, Gaetano, Esposito; Kilicsoy.

Predicted bench: Radunovic, Ciocci, Idrissi, Prati, Di Pardo, Pavoletti, Cavuoti, Pintus, Rog, Mazzitelli, Luperto, Luvumbo, Liteta, Trepy, Borrelli.