Milan won its first home match of the season in style, scoring four goals in the first half to beat Cagliari 4-1. The visitors had no answer for the dynamic Rossoneri midfield, with Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao running wild on the left wing. Olivier Giroud added two goals to open his account for the season, proving that he can be an effective number nine in Stefano Pioli’s system.
With the result already confirmed after a five-goal first half, the two competitors were content to let the clock run out, leading to an uneventful second 45 minutes. Here are our Player Ratings for the high-scoring affair.
Milan XI
Mike Maignan – 6
He could have done better on Cagliari’s goal, but ultimately Maignan did not have much to do. He confidently intercepted the few crosses that came his way.
Simon Kjaer – 7
The Dane had another strong showing for his side, winning several aerial duels and blocking shots. Kjaer’s form has been a welcome surprise for Milan the last two seasons.
Fikayo Tomori – 6
Tomori was largely unremarkable on the day and committed a handful of unnecessary fouls. The defender made no critical errors, but he can certainly improve on the performance.
Theo Hernandez – 7
Hernandez played well in the first half and was heavily involved in Milan’s successful attack down the left wing. He was fairly quiet in the second half, but continues to improve defensively.
Davide Calabria – 6.5
Despite not showing up on the scoresheet, Calabria distributed the ball well and showed chemistry with Saelemaekers on the wing. He also effectively neutralized Dalbert, who was a non-factor in the match.
Sandro Tonali – 6
Tonali scored a brilliant goal from a free kick, but the midfielder again struggled to involve himself in open play. He failed to track his man on Cagliari’s goal, leaving Calabria to mark two players, and did not contribute defensively.
Rade Krunic – 7
Krunic filled Bennacer’s role as the deep midfielder and effectively facilitated build-up play. He was dominant in possession and won several challenges in the defensive third. The Bosnian is slowly becoming a quality depth option for Milan.
Alexis Saelemaekers – 6.5
The young Belgian flashed several times and displayed impressive work rate. However, he also turned the ball over and was inconsistent when crossing from the wing.
Rafael Leao – 8
Playing in Rebic’s left wing role, Leao had a brilliant game. He displayed his incredible pace and technical ability, creating several chances for Milan. When at his best, Leao gives Stefano Pioli a versatile option, and can be used as a substitute or in the starting XI.
Brahim Diaz – 8
The young attacking midfielder was Milan’s most creative player, finding space throughout the pitch. Diaz was heavily involved in the game, sparking several chances for his side, including the second and third goals. The Spaniard displayed tremendous energy and provided a consistent presence.
Olivier Giroud – 7.5
Scoring a first-half brace, the Frenchman rebounded after a poor performance against Sampdoria. Giroud’s size and shooting ability will be an asset for Milan this season, but he did struggle some with his hold-up play.
Milan Substitutes
Alessandro Florenzi – 5.5
Coming on as the right-winger for Saelemaekers, Florenzi was not heavily involved. He and Calabria seemed to inhabit the same space at times.
Ismael Bennacer – 6.5
Bennacer replaced Tonali and injected energy into Milan’s midfield. The Rossoneri were cruising to the finish line by the time the Algerian was introduced, and he was not asked to do much.
Ante Rebic – N/A
Daniel Maldini – N/A
Samu Castillejo – N/A
Olivier Giroud: GOALS GUARANTEED! ?⚫️
A smart finish from the AC Milan striker for his first goal in Serie A ?
Zlatan Ibrahimović approves! ?? pic.twitter.com/3685tUM7yh
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 29, 2021
Cagliari XI
Boris Radunovic – 5
There was not much the goalkeeper could do as Milan tore apart his side’s defense. He nearly stopped Giroud’s penalty, but managed just one save while allowing four goals.
Diego Godin – 4
It was a poor showing from the veteran defender. Godin’s lack of pace reared its head against Milan and could be a serious concern for Cagliari moving forward.
Andrea Carboni – 5.5
Tasked with handling Saelemaekers and Calabria, Carboni turned in a decent, but unspectacular performance. The defender ensured that the bulk of Milan’s offense came from the left and center.
Luca Ceppitelli – 3.5
Ceppitelli was absolutely dominated by Leao and Hernandez on the left wing and ultimately left the match with an injury. It was a day to forget for the right-sided center-back.
Kevin Strootman – 3
Strootman was caught out of position on Milan’s third goal and was responsible for the penalty that led to the fourth. He was ultimately a significant contributor to Cagliari’s midfield struggles.
Razvan Marin – 5
A player who has become a key component of Cagliari’s midfield, Marin struggled to contribute defensively. The Romanian was unable to prevent Milan from dominating the midfield, but he did well when in possession of the ball.
Alessandro Deiola – 5.5
Despite a nice goal to bring the match level in the first half, Deiola struggled to retain possession in the midfield and was largely unnoticeable.
Nahitan Nandez – 5
Nandez occasionally threatened Milan on the wing, but he provided little defensive support from the wing-back position.
Dalbert – 4.5
Dalbert struggled to find the ball and contribute defensively, having a very quiet day overall. The wing-back, whose stock has dropped significantly over the past few seasons, has had a poor start with Cagliari.
Leonardo Pavoletti – 5
The striker had a terrible first half, but he rebounded in the second, finding several opportunities to shoot. However, he struggled to combine with Joao Pedro and had a disappointing performance.
Joao Pedro – 5.5
Jaoa Pedro had a wonderful chipped pass to assist Deiola’s goal, but he otherwise failed impact the match. The Brazilian was poor when receiving the ball and did not create many dangerous chances.
Cagliari Substitutes
Gabriele Zappa – 5
Zappa took the pitch as a replacement for Ceppitelli, who suffered a back injury. Despite playing for over 30 minutes, the right-back failed make an impact.