It has come to that time of the season where both teams are in desperate need of 3 points for very different reasons.
Milan still have a mathematical chance of clinching a Europa League spot and taking something positive out of the season, however this seems very unlikely judging by their performances over the entire season. With only 8 wins on the board for 2014/2105, Milan are very much playing for pride, Inzaghi is managing for his career and the players are playing for their future at the club. They cannot afford another collapse like the one at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last Monday night, Destro and Menez looking to lead from the front.
Cagliari are currently lingering in the relegation zone 4 points behind Atalanta and will be desperate to take advantage of Milan's poor season. Taking 3 points at the San Siro is a lot easier said than done, with only 4 of their own wins for the 2014/15 season, the most recent a 2-1 win at home over Sassuolo on the 25th of January. A last minute equaliser denied them of 3 points last Sunday at home against Empoli. Zeman will also look to capitalise on his 2nd chance this season at the club, a win such as this could secure his tenure for next season should they survive relegation.
First half:
The plan from Zeman's men was clear from the outset, sit behind the ball, absorb as much pressure as they could and play on the break when the opportunity presented itself. Both teams gave up a number of chances in their final third which meant the game was very much an end-to-end contest with hardly any shots on target.
The home side won a free kick on 2 minutes, 40 yards out. M'Poku took it upon himself to have a long range shot, not troubling Diego Lopez's goal.
Crisetig setup some lovely play by getting the ball out wide to the overlapping Danilo Avelar on 5 minutes who would find an unmarked Sau in the box however he shot wide from the penalty spot.
An injury scare went though the Rossoblu camp 19 minutes in with Sau colliding knees with De Jong in midfield. He received treatment and returned to the pitch.
The first goal of the game came after 21 minutes with Destro making an uncontested run towards the box, then giving the ball off to Menez on left hand side of the area. He would control, move the ball onto his right foot and send a curling effort past a fully outstretched Brkic into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.
Van Ginkel shot from distance on 35 minutes after receiving a return pass from Menez, who was in the same position as his shot for the first goal. The ball sailing over the bar.
Crisetig was again creator at the close of the half, lobbing a dangerous ball over the Milan defense. Sau and M'Poku unable to get a touch on the ball from the six yard line.
Second half:
Cagliari came out firing in he second half and were rewarded almost instantly. Ekdal showed class to win and keep the ball just outside his own penalty area, moving the ball onto Sau on the halfway line. Farias collected the ball from a Sau one touch pass in midfield and as a result he only had Mexes to beat, turning Mexes inside out and slotting the ball past Diego Lopez on 47 minutes to equalise 1-1.
Milan responded quickly from a Menez corner on 49 minutes, floating the ball to the back post finding an unmarked Mexes. He struck a sweet volley into the ground, the bounce taking it past Brkic, 2-1 Milan.
Menez somehow found a path to Destro's crossing run in the 18 yard box on 56 minutes. Destro squared the ball for an oncoming Van Ginkel, but it was to close to Brkic who made a diving save.
Donsah was the next to find a small gap on 75 minutes, playing the ball into the substitute Joao Pedro who produced an off balance shot at the penalty spot hitting the crossbar.
On the turn of play Van Ginkel started the counter attack, playing the ball on the right side of the pitch to Cerci who had space to run into. He eventually found his way to into the penalty box, only to be met by a lunging tackle from Ceppitelli outside the box. Tagliavento awarding a contraversial penalty to Milan in which Menez slotted away to give him his second for the night.
The Rossoblu began to pile on the pressure for the last 10 minutes, in which Milan were happy to oblige and sit 10 men behind the ball. A cross caught by Diego Lopez in additional time started another counter attack for Milan. Menez getting the cross over to a waiting Pazzini but his header was brilliantly saved by Brkic.
Cerci provided some late drama in the last minute of added time, running into a 3 on 1 situation but he manage to direct his shot straight at Brkic.
In what was a quiet San Siro due to the Curva Sud's stadium protest, Milan can be happy with their performance. Controlling large parts of the game and being able to defend with a sense of calmness while under siege. Palleta and Mexes steered a solid defensive unit, something which hasn't been existent for most of the season. As for Cagliari, Zeman will need to find something in order to save his team from relegation. If Atlanta are able to get a result in Napoli, the task may prove to be too much.