AC Milan’s 3-3 draw with Cagliari at the Unipol Domus was a frustrating result, with the Rossoneri unable to hold on to two separate leads during an action-packed encounter.
Milan’s defensive fragility was evident, as they conceded three goals after taking the advantage twice, ultimately sharing the spoils in a dramatic match.
Heading into the fixture, Milan coach Paulo Fonseca had stressed the importance of maintaining focus, reminding his squad that this match, much like the midweek Champions League clash, demanded respect.
True to his bold approach, Fonseca handed a starting spot to Francesco Camarda, although this decision was partly out of necessity rather than tactical luxury.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for Milan as Cagliari took the lead just two minutes in. A poorly defended corner fell to Zortea, who made no mistake in firing past Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The early setback left Milan scrambling, and the hosts continued to apply pressure in the opening stages. However, the Rossoneri gradually found their rhythm and began to assert themselves.
Tijjani Reijnders was key to Milan’s response, sending a delightful pass to Rafael Leao inside the penalty area.
The Portuguese winger latched onto the ball and calmly slotted it past the Cagliari goalkeeper to level the score. Just 25 minutes later, Leao was at it again.
This time, he delivered a brilliant solo effort, taking advantage of a breakaway to round the goalkeeper and score his second of the night, putting Milan 2-1 up.
However, Milan’s defensive woes reappeared after the break. Just 10 minutes into the second half, a poor backpass from Youssouf Fofana was intercepted, and Zappa capitalized, bringing Cagliari level.
Milan’s inability to close out the game showed once again, and their lack of defensive solidity would come back to haunt them.
Tammy Abraham, who had only just been introduced as a substitute, managed to put Milan back in front, tapping in a rebound from a saved shot by Christian Pulisic.
It was a scrappy goal but one that gave the visitors a 3-2 lead. However, Milan’s hopes of securing a win were dashed in the final moments.
Despite a tactical reshuffle from Fonseca, including the introduction of Noah Okafor, Yunus Musah, and Fikayo Tomori to shore up the defense, the Rossoneri couldn’t hold their ground.
A sloppy attempt to play out from the back allowed Cagliari to launch a counterattack, and Zappa finished off a well-executed cross with a stunning volley to equalize, making it 3-3.
The defensive lapses that plagued Milan throughout the match, particularly at crucial moments, meant that they were unable to capitalize on their attacking opportunities.
Fonseca’s changes, including the substitutions of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Abraham, were designed to solidify Milan’s advantage, but they failed to prevent Cagliari from finding the equalizer.
Milan now sit seven points behind leaders Napoli, and with the Partenopei set to play on Sunday, the gap could widen to 10 points. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Milan’s road to the Scudetto will be a steep one, and this result only made that climb more difficult.
As Fonseca looks to address his side’s defensive frailties, he will have to hope that Milan can regroup quickly, as the race for the title seems to be slipping further out of their grasp with each passing week.
