When Sassuolo Calcio pulled off a 2-1 away win against Cagliari Calcio at the Unipol Domus Stadium on October 30, 2025, it wasn’t just three points—it was a lifeline. The match, part of Serie A Matchday 10, turned into a high-stakes survival duel between two teams drowning in the relegation zone. For Sassuolo, it was their third road win in five games. For Cagliari? A fifth straight winless outing that sent shockwaves through Sardinia. The final whistle didn’t just end a game—it exposed how fragile both clubs’ top-flight futures have become.
A Breakthrough on the Road
Armand Laurienté didn’t just score a goal—he broke a curse. His 54th-minute free kick, curling over the wall and into the top corner, was Sassuolo’s first goal in Cagliari since 2017. The crowd fell silent. Then, 11 minutes later, Andrea Pinamonti turned a loose ball inside the box and fired low past Elia Caprile. The Sassuolo Calcio bench erupted. Fans who’d traveled from Emilia-Romagna hugged strangers. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Sassuolo, back in Serie A after promotion from Serie B, looked like a team that belonged. Fabio Grosso’s side now sits on 13 points, having won four of their last nine matches—three of them away.
Meanwhile, Cagliari’s struggles deepened. They’d entered the match winless in five, with just nine points from 2 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. Their attack, once led by the now-injured Andrea Belotti, has sputtered. Sebastiano Esposito finally pulled one back in the 73rd minute after a goal was wrongly disallowed for offside in the 28th. But the damage was done. Goalkeeper Elia Caprile, wearing number 1, made three crucial saves—parrying a Thorstvedt shot with his foot and tipping away a Cristian Volpato corner—but even his heroics couldn’t mask the team’s lack of cohesion.
The Weight of History
What made this result so jarring? History. Before this match, Cagliari had gone unbeaten in their last five home games against Sassuolo—four wins, one draw. The last time Sassuolo won in Cagliari? Eight years ago. The last time they scored more than once here? Never. And yet, here they were, two goals up on the island, with a squad missing Domenico Berardi, Filippo Romagna, and three other regulars. The irony? Sassuolo’s injury list reads like a casualty report. Yet they outworked, outthought, and outplayed a Cagliari side that looked mentally broken.
The numbers tell the story: Cagliari averaged 1.52 goals per home game this season—yet failed to score in two of their four home matches. Sassuolo, meanwhile, averaged 1.38 away goals. Neither team should be this close to the drop. But here they are. The 1-1 draw, the most common result in their 20 meetings, had been the norm. This time, there was no tie. Just a shock.
Who’s Feeling the Heat?
Cagliari’s absence of Alessandro Deiola and Nicola Pintus hurt, but Yerry Mina’s return didn’t spark life. Michael Folorunsho, their most dangerous attacker, headed wide in the 12th minute. Riyad Idrissi was flagged offside twice. Gennaro Borrelli’s flick in the 28th minute looked onside—yet VAR overruled it. That decision haunted Cagliari. By the time Esposito’s goal was confirmed, the game was already slipping away.
For Sassuolo, the midfield trio of Cristian Volpato, Thorstvedt, and Pinamonti controlled the tempo. Even without their star striker, they played with confidence. Substitutes like Joseph Liteta and Nicolò Cavuoti didn’t just hold the line—they added energy. As Serie A’s official YouTube channel put it: “They were fired on all cylinders in Sardinia.”
What’s Next? A Desperate Run
Cagliari’s next three fixtures: away to Napoli, home to Inter, then at Juventus. That’s a gauntlet. Their goal difference is -7. They’ve scored just 11 goals in 9 games. If they don’t win soon, the drop could be inevitable. Football-Italia.net didn’t mince words: “It’s crisis time for Cagliari.”
Sassuolo’s schedule isn’t kind either—home to Roma, away to Fiorentina, then a derby against Bologna. But they’ve got momentum. They’ve got belief. And now, they’ve got a rare away win in Cagliari that could define their season.
Behind the Numbers
The statistics paint a grim picture:
- Cagliari: 0 wins in last 5 Serie A matches, 9 points total
- Sassuolo: 3 wins in last 5 matches, 13 points total
- Historical head-to-head: 10 draws, 6 wins for Cagliari, 4 wins for Sassuolo
- Unipol Domus record: Cagliari won 4, drew 4, lost 1 in last 9 home meetings
- Goals per game: Cagliari 1.52 (home), Sassuolo 1.38 (away)
And here’s the kicker: Sassuolo’s last away win in Serie A before this? Against Cagliari in 2017. Now, they’ve done it again—this time with a squad half-depleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this result impact Cagliari’s chances of staying in Serie A?
Cagliari now sits just above the relegation zone on goal difference, but their winless streak has reached five matches—longest in the club’s current Serie A campaign. With Napoli, Inter, and Juventus coming up, they need points fast. If they lose their next two, they’ll likely drop into the bottom three with only 9 points from 10 games, making survival mathematically improbable without a dramatic turnaround.
Why is Sassuolo’s away win so significant?
Sassuolo hadn’t won away at Cagliari since 2017, and prior to this, they’d lost three of their last four trips to Sardinia. Winning 2-1 here, especially with key injuries, proves they’ve developed mental toughness. It’s their third away win this season—more than any other promoted team in Serie A history after returning from Serie B. That’s not luck. It’s resilience.
What role did VAR play in this match?
VAR overturned Sebastiano Esposito’s 28th-minute goal for offside, a decision that sparked outrage among Cagliari fans. Replays showed the ball may have deflected off a Sassuolo defender, making the call highly controversial. But it didn’t reverse the final outcome—Cagliari’s lone goal, scored legally in the 73rd minute, came too late. The VAR delay likely sapped Cagliari’s momentum at a critical moment.
How do injuries affect both teams’ survival prospects?
Cagliari lost Andrea Belotti and Alessandro Deiola—two key attacking options—while Sassuolo is missing Domenico Berardi, their captain and top scorer. Yet Sassuolo adapted better, using Pinamonti and Laurienté effectively. Cagliari’s depth is thin: their bench lacked creativity. With 10 games left, the team with better squad depth will survive—and right now, that’s Sassuolo.
What’s the historical context behind this rivalry?
In 20 previous meetings, Cagliari had won 6, Sassuolo 4, and 10 ended in draws. But home advantage was always Cagliari’s edge: in their last 9 home games against Sassuolo, they’d won 4 and drawn 4. This loss breaks that pattern and could shift psychological momentum. Sassuolo now knows they can win in Cagliari—and Cagliari knows they can’t count on home comfort anymore.
Who are the key players to watch in the remaining fixtures?
For Sassuolo, Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Laurienté are suddenly their most reliable scorers. For Cagliari, Michael Folorunsho and goalkeeper Elia Caprile must carry the load. But the real X-factor? Midfielder Marco Palestra, who’s been the only consistent passer in Cagliari’s attack. If he can unlock defenses, they still have hope. If not, they’re in serious trouble.
