Cagliari’s afternoon at the Unipol Domus turned on two moments after the interval, as Bologna left Sardinia with a 2-0 Serie A victory on Saturday 24 October. Nicolò Casale broke the deadlock from a corner in the 57th minute before Federico Bernardeschi sealed the result from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining.
In the championship
The meeting, played in the eighth round of Serie A, had remained level through a first half in which both sides found openings without finding a finish. Cagliari’s Paul Mendy sent an effort wide from Michel Adopo’s cross, while Bologna goalkeeper Elia Caprile was called upon after Jens Odgaard struck from a tight angle. Bernardeschi also tested the goalkeeper from distance.
Cagliari were forced into a change at the interval when Harry Winks could not continue, with Roberto Gagliardini taking his place. Yukinari Sugawara also entered for Zé Pedro at the start of the second half.
- Casale headed Bologna ahead in the 57th minute, directing Juan Miranda’s corner low into the left corner.
- Cagliari pushed for a reply, with Mendy denied by a save after Adopo supplied a cross into the area.
- Juan Rodríguez handled inside the Cagliari box in the 78th minute, and Bernardeschi converted the ensuing penalty two minutes later.
Bologna had created pressure from set pieces before their opening goal. Matteo Darmian missed from inside the area, Tommaso Pobega headed over and Miranda repeatedly delivered dangerous corners. Casale eventually made one count, giving Bologna the control that had been missing during an even first half.
Cagliari’s clearest route back came through Mendy. The forward had already missed from the centre of the area before the break and headed wide early in the second half. His 71st-minute shot, set up by Adopo, was saved, while his header in stoppage time from Sugawara’s free-kick delivery cleared the target.
Bologna managed the closing stages with a series of substitutions. Rahim Alhassane replaced Miranda, Mikel Amondarain came on for Odgaard after the latter had needed treatment, and Marco Libra took Nadir Zortea’s place. Martin Vitík later replaced Darmian, while Samuel Mbangula entered for Bernardeschi.
Cagliari introduced Kevin Carlos for Daniel Maldini, Alieu Fadera for Alessandro Romano and Giuseppe Aurelio for Yanis Massolin, but the home side could not alter the scoreline. Bernardeschi had earlier been booked, as were Cagliari’s Zé Pedro, Gagliardini and Alessandro Deiola.
Libra had a low shot saved in added time as Bologna pursued a third goal, but the essential work had been completed: Casale’s corner-header and Bernardeschi’s penalty carried Bologna through a demanding away afternoon, leaving Cagliari to reflect on missed chances before and after the decisive opening goal.
