4–2 Full time Tuesday 27 October

Our pick1–0Correct result

Roma aim to tighten grip on top four after beating Cagliari in February

Their last meeting ended 2-0 to Roma; with the Stadio Olimpico hosting again, a win would help Roma consolidate a Champions League place while Cagliari chase a top-half finish. Injuries leave both sides with selection questions.

📍 Stadio Olimpico

Preview written: Mon 26 Oct 01:43 · Updated after team news: Tue 27 Oct 21:07

All Matchday 9 matches Full head-to-head

Match report

AS Roma beat Cagliari 4-2. Cagliari opened the scoring from a penalty in the 10th minute by M'Bala Nzola. Emanuele Lulli equalised for AS Roma in the 15th minute, assisted by Nahuel Molina, and Niccolò Pisilli put AS Roma ahead in the 21st minute, assisted by Emanuele Lulli. Daniel Maldini pulled one back for Cagliari in the 81st minute, assisted by Adam Obert, but Rodrigo Mora restored a two-goal lead for AS Roma in the 85th minute, assisted by Daniele Ghilardi, and Donyell Malen added a late goal in the 87th minute.

The stats show AS Roma controlled possession (61% to 39%) and had one more total shot (20 to 19) while shots on target were even at 8-8; AS Roma also led in xG (3.10 to 2.46). Top-rated player was Rodrigo Mora (8.2). PreviaXI’s model had predicted a 1-0 win for the home side, with win/draw/loss chances 65%/20%/15%.

Goals

10'M'Bala Nzola (pen.) · Cagliari
15'Emanuele Lulli · Nahuel Molina · AS Roma
21'Niccolò Pisilli · Emanuele Lulli · AS Roma
81'Daniel Maldini · Adam Obert · Cagliari
85'Rodrigo Mora · Daniele Ghilardi · AS Roma
87'Donyell Malen · AS Roma

Cards

90+4'Juan Rodriguez · Cagliari

Match stats

AS RomaCagliari

61%Possession39%

20Shots19

8Shots on target8

3.10Expected goals (xG)2.46

7Corners8

8Fouls8

2Offsides3

6Saves4

⭐ Top-rated player: Rodrigo Mora (AS Roma) 8.2

Ratings and statistics: API-Football.

Confirmed lineups

AS Roma · 3-5-2

95P. GolliniG
23G. ManciniD
5E. NdickaD
3K. KoulierakisD
77E. LulliM
4B. CristanteM
15M. de RoonM
61N. PisilliM
20N. MolinaM
18M. SouléF
9S. CastroF

Coach: G. Gasperini

Cagliari · 3-5-1-1

1E. CaprileG
2Zé PedroD
26Y. MinaD
15J. RodríguezD
28Y. SugawaraM
4A. RomanoM
14A. DeiolaM
8M. AdopoM
33A. ObertM
39A. FaderaM
18M'Bala NzolaF

Coach: F. Pisacane

Match facts

Recent form

AS RomaWDDWD

CagliariWWDLL

Last 5 league games, latest on the right

Goals per game

·	Scored	Conceded
AS Roma	2.4	0.8
Cagliari	0.8	1.1

League position

Pos	Team	P	GD	Pts
3	AS Roma	8	+13	18
9	Cagliari	8	-3	13

Last meetings

2026AS Roma2-0Cagliari
2025Cagliari1-0AS Roma
2025AS Roma1-0Cagliari
2024Cagliari0-0AS Roma
2024AS Roma4-0Cagliari

Absences

AS Roma

OutM. Bah · Knee Injury
OutM. Kone · Muscle Injury
OutL. Pellegrini · Thigh Injury
OutM. Svilar · Toe Injury
DoubtfulP. Dybala · Calf Injury

Cagliari

OutM. Felici · Knee Injury
OutR. Idrissi · Knee Injury
OutH. Winks · Back Injury

PreviaXI model

AS Roma65%Draw20%Cagliari15%

Model confidence: Strong

Predicted score: 1-0
Expected goals (model): 1.94 – 0.77
Double chance: 1X · 85%12 80% · X2 35%
Over 2.5 goals: 51%Over 1.5: 75% · Over 3.5: 29%
Both teams score: 46%
Clean sheet: 46% – 14%AS Roma–Cagliari
Half-time result: 1 · 47%X 39% · 2 14%
Half-time / full-time: 1/1 · 42%X/1 20% · X/X 13%
Expected corners: 9.56.8 – 2.7 · Over 9.5: 47%
Expected cards: 3.91.6 – 2.3 · Over 3.5: 55%
Most likely scores: 1-013%
2-012%
2-110%
1-110%
3-08%

Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →

Roma’s qualification mission and what’s at stake

The most recent meeting between these sides saw AS Roma beat Cagliari 2-0 on 9 February. Roma arrive at the Stadio Olimpico third in Serie A on 18 points from eight games and with a +13 goal difference; another win would strengthen their position in the top-four race. Cagliari sit ninth on 13 points and are aiming to climb into the top half as the season approaches the next phase.

Roma’s home rhythm vs Cagliari’s mixed road form

Roma have been strong domestically, unbeaten in the league so far and scoring 19 in eight games. At home they have won three of four, averaging 2.5 goals per game on their patch and keeping two clean sheets there. Cagliari’s results are more erratic: four wins from eight but a negative goal difference. Their away scoring is modest (0.5 per game at home, 1.0 away) and they have conceded more frequently on the road.

Recent encounters tell a clear story

Head-to-head in the last five league meetings favors Roma: three home wins for Roma (including 2-0 and 4-0 results) plus a 1-0 away win and a 0-0 draw. Roma have generally dominated these fixtures and have scored heavily across this sequence.

Absences shaping selection

Roma have several notable absences: M. Bah, M. Kone, L. Pellegrini and M. Svilar are all missing with injuries; P. Dybala is listed as questionable with a calf problem. Cagliari will be without M. Felici, R. Idrissi and H. Winks, all sidelined with knee or back injuries. Those gaps could affect both sides’ attacking options and squad depth.

Players to keep an eye on

With Dybala a doubt, Roma’s attacking burden will fall to the fit forwards and creative midfielders who have been contributing to the team’s high goals tally. Cagliari will need their remaining forwards to be clinical away from home to upset Roma.

Our prediction

PreviaXI’s model favours a narrow Roma win in a typically tight Stadio Olimpico contest: Roma create more chances at home and have been defensively solid, while Cagliari’s absences and lower expected goal output make scoring difficult. Expect a low-scoring match decided by a single home goal.

AS Roma 1-0 Cagliari

⚑ Report a mistake Editorial policy

Serie A table All previews that day