Week 6: Cagliari – Milan

An underwhelming, lackluster 1-0 win versus Verona was nevertheless a welcome three points. For the week 5 match Pioli somewhat inexplicably switched to a 3-4-3 using Florenzi higher on the pitch. The game was devoid of much drama however and an early Leao goal was probably the only noteworthy point or highlight.

Week 6 comes quickly on a weekday as the schedule ramps up as is usual in world football. The idea of giving a rest to Giroud was mentioned for week 5 but it seems that the Frenchman will get a rest for this visit to the Rossoblu. Jovic is the backup who has shown little in the minutes he has gotten so far. Maignan is not ready and could be out another few days so Sportiello will get another start in goal. The goalkeeper showed flashes of great reflexes in the weekend start. Neither Calabria nor Hernandez seem 100% fit but both may start in a return to a 4-3-3. The midfield looks to feature Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders and Pobega. Reijnders is being used in Krunic’s more defensive role and it is interesting to see that he is perhaps the best performing summer signing so far. Musah could start in Pobega’s place and he showed a good deal of promise over the weekend.

Claudio Ranieri led Cagliari are winless in the first five games of the season and feature a long injured list that has the likes of Gianluca Lapadula, Leonardo Pavoletti, Marko Rog and Jakub Jankto either out or not fully fit.

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