Gian Piero Gasperini made a rotation against Cagliari , a matchday 9 match in Serie A, leaving Malen on the bench and fielding Castro . Gollini was confirmed in goal , pending Svilar 's recovery , while the defense featured the surprise of Koulierakis in place of Hermoso, alongside Ndicka and Mancini . Lulli and Molina were given space on the wings, while in midfield the Grugliasco-born coach decided to give continuity to De Roon and Pisilli. Behind Castro, Soulé and Cristante were chosen.
Roma played with fire and won 4-2 thanks to goals from Lulli, Pisilli, Mora and Malen. The Giallorossi soared to 21 points in the standings and continued their streak of 16 consecutive positive results that began last season.
1st half
Roma started strongly and almost took the lead after five minutes through Mancini, set up with a wonderful pass from Soulé, who fired a low shot but the ball was blocked by Caprile . Cagliari responded immediately by taking the lead: Pisilli handled the ball following a corner, and Nzola scored a penalty (10th) that completely wrong-footed Gollini. Roma remained unperturbed by the incident and immediately equalized through Emanuele Lulli (15th): a header from a perfect cross from Molina.
Roma nearly scored again two minutes later: the 2007-born striker was once again the star, playing a precise ball to Castro, who failed to tap in from close range. No. 77 was a veritable force down the right flank and helped Roma take the lead: his cross fell to Pisilli (22nd minute), who slammed the ball into Caprile's net , canceling out the handball that had allowed Cagliari to score from the penalty spot. In just seven minutes, Gasperini's side overturned the scoreline and continued to control the game with authority, yet another sign of their character this season. In the 26th minute, Soulé attempted a free kick: his cross-shot was parried by the Cagliari goalkeeper, who was unfazed.
Pisacane's team nearly equalized with Adopo, who fired a right-footed shot from a good position, but Gollini made a good save: the ball fell to Fadera , who found Nzola, who missed the target. Mancini was clearly struggling, even though Cagliari failed to capitalize on the space provided by the Roma defender. Gasperini was furious on the bench after yet another failed save from his center-back. The first half ended 2-1 to the Giallorossi.
2st half
Roma pushed hard from the opening minutes to seal the victory with Pisilli, who played a pass to Castro. The Argentine striker, slightly off to the left inside the penalty area, cut inside and attempted a shot that, blocked by the Cagliari defense, fell easily into the arms of Caprile. In the 54th minute, Pisacane's team, Deiola, capitalized on a rebound after De Roon's parry hit Cristante and fired from distance. Gollini did well to clear the ball over the crossbar. The Giallorossi goalkeeper was also ready after seven minutes (61st): Nzola played it wide to Fadera, who fired it onto the post of No. 95, who deflected the ball out for a corner.
The Sardinian team continued to push, with Roma imprecise with and without the ball: two not-so-dangerous shots towards Gollini's goal, who responded on both occasions, first from Rodriguez and then from Adopo. Cagliari didn't give up and scored the 2-2 goal in the 81st minute when Maldini eluded Mancini and beat the Giallorossi keeper . Roma responded immediately and scored two goals in as many minutes, with Rodrigo Mora (85') heading in a Ghilardi assist that surprised Caprile, and Malen (87') capitalizing on some excellent play from Mora. The Giallorossi played with fire but snatched four goals against Cagliari and moved to 21 points in the standings.
Roma-Cagliari: the scoresheet
ROME (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Mancini (82′ Ghilardi), Ndicka, Koulierakis; Lulli (76′ Rensch), Pisilli, Cristante, Molina (46′ Wesley); Soulé, De Roon (56′ Mora); Castro (56′ Malen).
Available: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Rensch, Ghilardi, Mora, Wesley, Hermoso, Malen, Arena, Camara.
All.: Gasperini.
CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Caprile; Zé Pedro, Mina, Juan Rodríguez; Sugowara (90′ Trepy), Adopo (90′ Massolin), Deiola (76′ Liteta), Romano, Obert; Nzola (63′ Mendy), Fadera (76′ Maldini).
Subs: Sherri, Radunovic, Kofler, Aurelio, Liteta, Sulev, Fazzini, Gagliardini, Ciervo, Maldini, Carlos, Mendy, Trepy.
All.: Pisacane.
Referee: Feliciani. Fourth official: Mariani. VAR: Ghersini. AVAR: Champion
Warnings: Rodriguez
Scorers: Nzola, Lulli, Pisilli, Maldini, Mora, Malen
