In a game that had it all, AC Milan were forced to settle for a point after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Cagliari at the Sardegna Arena.

The home side struck first through a goal from Nadir Zortea inside the opening two minutes, but Rafael Leão quickly leveled the scores with a well-taken finish in the 15th minute.

Leão then put the Rossoneri ahead just before the break, only for Cagliari’s Gabriele Zappa to pull the hosts level early in the second half.

When Tammy Abraham restored Milan’s lead midway through the half, it looked like the visitors would grind out a vital victory. But Zappa had other ideas, netting a dramatic late equalizer to earn Cagliari a share of the spoils.

The result will leave Milan boss Stefano Pioli frustrated, as his side let a lead slip in the closing stages. However, there were plenty of positives to take, not least the continued fine form of Leão, who bagged a brace.

For Cagliari, this was a gutsy performance that showcased the fighting spirit of Fabio Liverani’s team. Zappa was the hero, scoring twice to earn his side a hard-fought point.

In the end, a draw was probably a fair result in an entertaining encounter that had the fans on the edge of their seats throughout. Both teams will now look to bounce back in their next fixtures as the race for Serie A supremacy intensifies.