Cagliari Bogged Down in Relegation Dogfight After Defeat to Spezia

In front of their new president Philip Platek, Spezia won a Serie A relegation six-pointer at their home Alberto Picco Stadium on Saturday night as they sunk down Cagliari with goals from Roberto Piccoli and Giulio Maggiore.

Gastòn Pereiro pulled one back for Cagliair but his effort was not enough as the Islanders seem to have exhausted the boost received after changing coach from Eusebio Di Francesco to Leonardo Semplici. Cagliari remain third to last in the table and risk seeing their distance from Torino increase, should the Granata win against Sampdoria tomorrow.

Vincenzo Italiano’s Bianconeri were winless in five games – since their fantastic exploit against Milan – but didn’t change their usual lineup, set up on a 4-3-3 formation. The offensive trident was made of Diego Farias, Emmanuel Gyasi, and Roberto Piccoli – who was confirmed among the starters after scoring to Atalanta last week. In midfield, shone the star of Matteo Ricci – who just received his first Azzurri call-up from Italy coach Roberto Mancini.

Cagliari answered with a defensive setup that make you wonder how on earth can the Rossoblu be so low in the table, featuring goalkeeper Alessio Cragno, veteran Diego Godin, former Juventus man Daniele Rugani, and Estonia international Ragnar Klavan – plus a name like Radja Nainggolan in midfield. Simply inexplicable.

? OUR STARTING XI! #SpeziaCagliari pic.twitter.com/fgWxZnxU7r

— Spezia Calcio English (@acspezia_en) March 20, 2021

Still, despite a good start in the initial stages of the game, Cagliari disappeared from the pitch and only woke up when Spezia had put two past them. That happened in the second half, however, as the first period ended with no significant chances from either side – save for a couple of Spezia shots easily defused by Cragno.

The Bianconeri put their heads ahead four minutes after the restart as Matteo Ricci celebrated his Azzurri call-up with a perfectly-timed cross for Roberto Piccoli, who headed the ball home to collect his second goal in a row.

The Sardinians’ reaction was relentless but didn’t bear any fruit. Jeroen Zoet saved from a Gastòn Pereiro shot, then was helped by substitute Giovanni Simeone who failed to connect properly with the ball from point-blank range.

Spezia’s second goal came on 80 minutes and it was the consequence of a swift counterattack finalized by Giulo Maggiore with a right-foot volley.

Cagliari pulled one back as Pereiro resolved a chaotic action in the middle of Spezia’s box just four minutes later. From then on, it was a Cagliari assault to the goal defender by Jeroen Zoet, with the Dutch keeper brilliantly stopping a Nahitan Nandez incursion.

? | STARTING XI

Queste le scelte di Semplici ?#SpeziaCagliari #forzaCasteddu pic.twitter.com/lNDOI9ifPY

— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) March 20, 2021

Perhaps the Islanders should also have had their second but saw two goals disallowed on ground of offside. In the second occasion, it took quite some time for the VAR to review Joao Pedro’s position before deeming him offside and frustrating Cagliari’s celebrations. The score remained set at 1-2 and that’s how the game ended. 

Times are getting though for the Rossoblu as Vincenzo Italiano and Spezia moved seven points clear of them and the relegation zone. Leonardo Semplici and Cagliari now need to hope that Torino and Benevento won’t collect any point tomorrow to keep contact with them and continue to hope.  

 

MATCH REPORT

March 20, 2021 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 28
SPEZIA-CAGLIARI 2-1

SCORERS: 48′ Piccoli (S), 80′ Maggiore (S), 84′ Pereiro (C)

REFEREE: Mr. Mariani from Aprilia
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Farias (S), Nainggolan, Joao Pedro (C)