AC Milan drew Cagliari in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia, and will play the single-leg match on the second day of the new year. Fans of the Rossoneri will hope their club can begin 2024 with a solid victory at San Siro to take them to the quarterfinals. In their last fixture, Milan claimed a 3-1 victory on the road despite conceding first. Read on to access an expert AC Milan vs Cagliari prediction and explore tips for AC Milan betting.
- AC Milan vs Cagliari, Coppa Italia
- January 2, 2024
- 3 PM EST
- San Siro, Milan, Italy
- Paramount+
AC Milan vs Cagliari Betting Odds
It should come as a surprise to no fervent Italian soccer fan that AC Milan are overwhelming favorites in this Coppa Italia clash. The club in red and black are currently priced at (-275) at highly-rated online sportsbook Bovada. The underdogs Cagliari, who are desperately attempting to reach safety as they sit a point below the water line for relegation, will have a daunting task ahead of them. Their (+600) price tags gives them just a 14.3% chance to win in regulation. If extra time is required, “draw” bettors will cash out at (+370).
To better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market, see our soccer betting tips and learn to make bets online.
What is the Coppa Italia?
An annual domestic tournament, the Coppa Italia is arguably the most coveted trophy in Italy besides winning Serie A. Correspondingly, the winner automatically qualifies for the group stage of the Europa League and the Supercoppa Italiana. Juventus have won the most Coppa Italia trophies at 14, with Roma and Inter also tied for second at 9. Despite AC Milan’s prominence on the world stage, the club has managed to win only 5 Coppa Italias, behind the likes of Fiorentina, Lazio and Napoli. In fact, Milan hasn’t won in over two decades, dating back to 2003.
AC Milan Bringing in Legendary Zlatan as Adviser
Merely half a year following his retirement from professional football, the cherished Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made a comeback to the captivating world of the sport. Earlier, AC Milan disclosed that the former striker, famed for donning the red and black, will take on the role of a special advisor to the club's owners and management team. As the highest goal scorer in his homeland's history, Zlatan's remarkable career includes triumphs in domestic leagues across four diverse countries, enriching the Rossoneri with a treasure trove of knowledge and experience. His return might just ignite a surge in morale and confidence within a struggling Milan squad facing the looming threat of Champions League elimination.
A late Jovic goal made all the difference in Milan’s trip to bottom club Salernitana. As a result, the Rossoneri managed to recover a point on the road. Luka Jovic played the role of “super-sub” to perfection, scoring a 90’ minute equalizer as the Serbian replaced first-time starter Ismael Bennacer. Now, the 3rd-placed Milanese turn their attention to the Round of the 16 against Cagliari, with a loss knocking them out of the competition.
Cagliari’s Cinderella Run to Top Flight Near an End?
Earlier, Cagliari’s inspiring promotion to Serie A in the 2022-2023 season was a heartwarming tale for any soccer fan. The club earned a spot in the top domestic flight after Claudio Ranieri returned as manager. The longtime head coach made his name at Cagliari in the early 1980s before becoming famous for leading Leicester City to a historic 2015-2016 Premier League championship.
With Ranieri at the helm, Cagliari jumped from 14th in the table to a coveted Serie B playoff spot all of a sudden. They claimed promotion after a series of last-minute goals in the playoff, bringing them back to Serie A after being relegated the year before. However, they face such consequences again if their current results continue. The Sardinia-based club sits in the danger zone as we enter the second half of the season.
A Coppa Italia win would be a welcome distraction to a team without much success to show for its recent efforts. Perhaps they can renew some of their playoff magic from just a year ago and score some shocking late winners.
AC Milan vs Cagliari Prediction and Free Betting Pick
Milan have proven to be slow starters in recent games. Cagliari will most likely elect to sit back deep and endure wave after wave of offensive attacks from Milan. They must trust in their defense if they are to have a chance. Fortunately, the club hasn’t conceded a first half goal in the Coppa Italia so far, and have failed to score in the first half in their last 4 matches.
Additionally, both teams are set to play midweek for Serie A. This will leave both clubs with fatigued bodies which generally tends to favor unders and underdogs. However, I am not confident Cagliari can withstand late, aggressive runs by AC Milan on shaky legs and they will eventually falter. All in all, a slow start is likely.
Therefore, I like this game to stay low-scoring until the break, but would stay conservative considering the additional variance of betting first half results. You can get under 1.25 goals for the first half at Bovada with a current line of (-125). This effectively splits your bet into under 1 goal and under 1.5 goal. In the event the first half ends 1-0 for either side, you will push half your bet and cash half your bet. If no goals are scored, the full bet cashes. If two or more goals are scored, the full bet misses.
Odds are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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