Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari, with Gollini proving decisive in goal and Malen and Mora combining to restore the three points in the closing stages. Gasperini's side made four changes from the Napoli fixture, keeping the same tactical approach, and dominated possession from the start, with Cristante and De Roon not needing to worry about tracking opponents as the ball rarely left Roma's feet. The match also exposed concerns, however. Roma had conceded five goals in their last two games, with Gollini often coming to the rescue, a worrying trend given that until a few days earlier the club had the best defensive record in Europe. Roma's rotation was tested by a schedule of matches every three days, and the depth of the squad was once again on show.
Despite their early control, Cagliari took the lead after Roma conceded a corner that led to a penalty, awarded for a clumsy handball by Pisilli, and the hosts went ahead. Gasperini's side did not panic. They pushed forward through the wide channels, and a classic fifth-to-fifth routine saw Molina cut in from the left and set up Lulli, who headed in at the second post to level. Roma then struck again down the right, where a flowing move ended with Lulli delivering a cross to the edge of the box, and Pisilli's timing carried him in to complete the turnaround within five minutes. Cagliari, however, quickly showed they had a plan of their own. Their central midfield superiority, combined with Roma's slow central pairing of De Roon and Cristante, allowed them to play direct vertical passes into the spaces behind Roma's defenders, with Nzola and Fadera, and the wing-backs Obert and Sugawara, driving forward.
After the break, Roma continued to struggle to find their rhythm as Cagliari grew stronger physically. Gasperini moved Wesley to the left to add energy, but Pisacane's side kept exploiting the gaps behind Roma's midfielders. Gasperini made attacking changes, bringing on Malen and Mora for Castro and De Roon, with Pisilli dropping into midfield alongside Cristante, Mora moving to the right and Soulé to the left. Cagliari's pressure intensified as Roma's defensive shape loosened, with Cristante and Mancini especially exposed. Maldini and Liteta came on and Cagliari's momentum built, and Maldini ultimately beat Gollini. Gasperini then made a late change, bringing on Ghilardi for Mancini, and Ghilardi delivered the cross for the taller Lulli in a crowded box. Malen, combining with Mora, then restored Roma's three points.
Story Coverage3 sources on this story
Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Stadio Olimpico in their Serie A ninth-round match, with Donyell Malen scoring the decisive fourth goal in the 87th minute. Cagliari led early after Pisilli handled in the area, and Roma responded through Lulli's header from a Molina cross. The outlets differ on the details. GialloRossi.net credits Nzola with the penalty, while Roma News does not name the taker. Roma News also says Pisilli's goal completed the turnaround within five minutes, whereas GialloRossi.net dates his finish to the 21st minute, a right-foot strike that made it 2-1, with Roma leading at half-time.
Roma News says Cagliari's central midfield superiority and the slowness of De Roon and Cristante allowed direct passes behind Roma's defence, and that Maldini beat Gollini after the break. GialloRossi.net places Maldini's finish in the 82nd minute, which made it 3-2 after Romano released him. It then says Mora headed Roma back in front in the 85th minute from a Ghilardi cross. Roma News also notes that Roma had conceded five goals in their previous two games, with Gollini often rescuing them, and GialloRossi.net records a stoppage-time save from Mendy.
Malen's goal ended a run of three consecutive matches without scoring, his longest drought since he began playing in Serie A, according to the Roma News match report. His strike came after Mora's pass, with his first effort blocked and the second beating Caprile. That report also notes that Malen scored twice against Cagliari at the Olimpico on 9 February 2026, and that he has now scored in four of his last matches against them there.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Si può dire “Roma che spavento” al novantesimo di una gara che il Cagliari ha saputo tenere viva e che ha messo a nudo alcune criticità che i giallorossi dovranno necessariamente risolvere, se vorranno partecipare alla corsa al massimo traguardo. Con 4 cambi rispetto a Napoli, la Roma è scesa in…”
Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.