Cagliari vs AC Milan Player Ratings: The Rossoneri Go To the Top of The Table Thanks to Rafael Leao's Goal in a 1-0 win

The Serie A clash of Cagliari vs AC Milan at Sardegna Arena was far from a classic, defined more by grit than glamour. It felt like a game that was always going to be decided by a single goal. From our perspective, the first half was a cagey affair. Cagliari actually started the brighter of the two teams, creating a flurry of early chances that they failed to convert.

What stood out to us was Milan's missed opportunity to take the lead just before halftime. Ruben Loftus-Cheek won a penalty, but the chance went begging, keeping the score level at the break and giving the hosts a massive psychological boost.

However, AC Milan came out in the second half with renewed purpose. The breakthrough arrived just five minutes after the restart, with Rafael Leão providing a clinical finish after a brilliant cross from Adrien Rabiot from the right-hand side of the penalty box.

The Portuguese unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot past Elia Caprile to put his team in the lead. After that, Milan managed the match professionally, shutting down Cagliari's attempts to find an equalizer. It was a classic, disciplined away performance to secure three vital points. Here are the Cagliari vs AC Milan Player Ratings.

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Cagliari

Have a look at the AC Milan Player Ratings from the Cagliari vs AC Milan Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 7.0: He wasn't peppered with shots all game, but he made one absolutely critical save from a header in the first half. What stood out was his command of the area and his distribution was calm and collected. Didn't have a whole lot to do, but what he did, he did well. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Koni De Winter - 7.5: We were genuinely impressed with this performance. An incredible 99% pass accuracy shows just how composed he was on the ball. He won every single one of his duels, aerial and on the ground. A nearly flawless defensive display that kept Cagliari's attackers quiet on his side.

Fikayo Tomori - 7.5: A rock at the back. He read the game beautifully, making four crucial interceptions and snuffing out danger before it even started. Strong in the tackle and comfortable bringing the ball out from the back. He was a leader in that backline and barely put a foot wrong all evening.

Davide Bartesaghi - 7.0: A really solid all-round performance from the full-back. He was defensively sound, winning all his tackles, but also offered a threat going forward. His powerful shot from distance forced a very good save from the keeper. It was an energetic display that showed he can contribute on both ends of the pitch.

Midfielders

Pervis Estupiñán - 5.5: This was a day to forget for him. An error leading directly to a shot is a cardinal sin for a midfielder, and it put his team under unnecessary pressure. He looked a bit off the pace and was eventually substituted. Just wasn't his game; he seemed to struggle with the tempo.

Luka Modrić - 8.0: The maestro at the heart of everything good for Milan. He dictated the tempo of the game with his incredible passing range and vision, completing 92% of his passes. He created three chances for his teammates and was the engine room for the side. A class above, and our highest-rated player for his control and creativity.

Adrien Rabiot - 7.5: A game of two halves for Rabiot, but his contribution was decisive. He delivered a perfect cross for Leão's winning goal, a moment of real quality. While he did lose the ball a few times, his assist and the big chance he created more than made up for it. A crucial impact when it mattered.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 6.5: The effort was there, as always. He worked tirelessly, drew several fouls, and was a constant nuisance. However, from our perspective, his final ball and end product were lacking once again. It was a performance full of running but little substance in the attacking third.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.0: A very quiet and ineffective outing. He struggled to make any real impact on the game and was largely a passenger in midfield. It was no surprise to see him substituted in the second half as Milan looked for more control. He'll be disappointed with his contribution.

Forwards

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 7.0: His powerful run to win the first-half penalty was a huge moment, even if it wasn't converted. He was a physical handful for the Cagliari defence throughout. The downside was that he lost possession far too often, and his shooting was wayward. A mixed bag, but his ability to win the penalty was a key contribution.

Rafael Leão - 8.0: The match-winner. He was quiet for periods of the game, but when the moment came, he was clinical. His left-footed finish was pure class, finding the top corner with precision. That's what you pay the big bucks for a player like him to do. He delivered the three points.

Substitutes

Niclas Füllkrug, Samuele Ricci, Christian Pulisic, Matteo Gabbia - N/A: All came on to help see the game out and performed their roles without any major incidents.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.5: This had all the hallmarks of a classic Allegri victory. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective. He got his tactics spot on to secure a vital 1-0 away win, and his substitutions helped manage the final stages perfectly. A professional job done by the manager.

Cagliari Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Check out our Cagliari Player Ratings from the Cagliari vs AC Milan Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Elia Caprile - 6.5: Could do absolutely nothing about Leão's superb finish. He made a fantastic save to deny Bartesaghi in the second half and looked generally secure. For a keeper on the losing side who conceded, he can hold his head high. It was a decent performance.

Defenders

Sebastiano Luperto - 6.5: Incredibly tidy in possession with a 98% pass completion rate. He battled hard against Milan's forwards and made several important clearances. He was part of a defence that was only breached by a moment of individual brilliance, so he can be reasonably pleased.

Juan Rodríguez - 5.0: His game will be remembered for one moment: conceding the penalty. It was a clumsy challenge that put his team in a terrible position right before the half. Although Milan missed, it was a massive error, and it overshadows the rest of his performance. A tough night for the defender.

Gabriele Zappa - 6.0: As captain, he tried to lead by example with his work rate. He got up and down the right flank, but his final ball was often lacking, with only one of his three crosses finding a teammate. He was solid enough defensively, but offered little cutting edge.

Midfielders

Marco Palestra - 6.5: He was a bundle of energy down the right, but it was a frustrating performance. He got into a great position to score early on but missed the target. He put in seven crosses but with very little success. You can't fault the effort, but the quality just wasn't there.

Luca Mazzitelli - 6.0: A combative display in the middle of the park. He worked hard to break up play and was tidy enough on the ball. However, he struggled to impose himself as Milan's midfield, led by Modrić, took control of the game. Fought a losing battle.

Michel Adopo - 7.0: From our view, he was Cagliari's best player. He was so unlucky not to score with a powerful header that forced a great save from Maignan. He was neat on the ball and always looked to move his team forward. A very positive and encouraging performance.

Matteo Prati - 6.0: He started the game like a house on fire, with two shots in the opening minutes. He looked really lively and keen to make an impression. Unfortunately, his influence waned significantly as the game went on, and he was substituted just after the hour mark.

Adam Obert - 7.0: We were honestly surprised to see him substituted. In his 61 minutes, he was excellent. He won almost all of his duels, was strong in the tackle, and even showed some flair with his successful dribbles. A very impressive and robust performance that deserved more time on the pitch.

Forwards

Semih Kılıçsoy - 5.0: A really difficult and isolating night for the young forward. He was starved of service and lost the vast majority of his duels against Tomori and De Winter. He gave the ball away far too easily and offered next to nothing as an attacking threat. A performance to forget.

Sebastiano Esposito - 6.5: He worked much harder and was far more involved than his strike partner. He created a great chance for Adopo's header and was always trying to make things happen. It didn't always come off, but the effort and intent were clear to see.

Substitutes

Riyad Idrissi, Gennaro Borrelli, Gianluca Gaetano, Nicolò Cavuoti, Leonardo Pavoletti - N/A: None of the substitutes could find the spark needed to change the result.

Manager

F. Pisacane - 6.0: His game plan to start fast and press high worked well in the opening stages, and his team could have been ahead. They fought hard but ultimately lacked the quality to break down a resolute Milan defence. He can be proud of the effort, if not the result.