Serie A Preview: Roma vs Cagliari – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

· CultOfCalcio

Stadio Olimpico is the venue as high-flying Roma and early surprise package Cagliari go head-to-head in midweek Serie A action. Both teams will be keen to return to winning ways on Tuesday after failing to win over the weekend. The post Serie A Preview: Roma vs Cagliari – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio .

Stadio Olimpico is the venue as high-flying Roma and early surprise package Cagliari go head-to-head in midweek Serie A action. Both teams will be keen to return to winning ways on Tuesday after failing to win over the weekend.

Roma demonstrated their fighting spirit in the latest edition of the famous Derby del Sole, defying a two-goal deficit to hold Napoli to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Maradona Stadium on Saturday. In doing so, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men upheld their unbeaten Serie A start (W5, D3), meaning they’ve avoided defeat in the first eight league matches of the season for the first time since 2013/14.

However, a third draw in their last four Serie A outings has seen the Giallorossi fall four points behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Vying for their first Scudetto since the beginning of the century, Roma will be desperate to return to the win column on Tuesday against a Cagliari side they’ve enjoyed plenty of success against at the Olimpico lately.

Fabio Pisacane’s charges face a Herculean task here, as they bid to bounce back from a 2-0 home loss to Bologna on Saturday. Indeed, Cagliari have suffered nine defeats on their last 11 league visits to Italy’s capital (D2). Furthermore, they haven’t scored in any of their four away league meetings with Roma since 2022 (L4), including a 2-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture last term.

Match Preview

Roma

Despite their recent domestic setbacks, Roma have reigned supreme at the Olimpico, winning three of their four home league matches in 2026/27 (D1) while netting at least two goals on each occasion. As if that’s not encouraging enough, Gasperini’s men have only lost one of their last 11 home games in all competitions (W8, D2), slumping to a stomach-wrenching 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League.

Another victory is very much on the cards, as the Giallorossi have won six of their last seven Tuesday-held Serie A fixtures (L1). Roma have also been firing on all cylinders on home turf, netting two or more goals in eight consecutive outings at the Olimpico, a feat they’ve managed in three of their last five home clashes against Cagliari.

It’s also worth noting that Gasperini’s attacking-minded football has not come at the expense of Roma’s defensive stability. Roma have conceded just one first-half goal in Serie A this season, so it’s hardly surprising that they’ve opened the scoring in 63% of their league matches so far.

Cagliari

Bologna condemned Cagliari to back-to-back league losses for the first time since April, preventing Piscane’s side from bouncing back from a dismal 4-0 defeat at Monza on their last Serie A trip. Now winless in three consecutive league games (D1, L2), the Sardinians have tumbled down to mid-table after a promising five-game start (W4, L1).

Cagliari’s once formidable-looking defense has started to fall apart. After conceding just twice in the opening five Serie A rounds, the visitors have let in seven goals in their last three league outings. Piscane must therefore stem the bleeding if the Islanders are to stand a chance at the Olimpico, where they last defeated Roma in February 2013.

However, Cagliari have fared outstandingly on the road this season. Their impressive tally of three wins from four away league games (L1) is just one shy of the four road victories they picked up in the entire 2025/26 season. Maintaining that remarkable trend would significantly increase Cagliari’s chances of securing a first top-half finish in Serie A since 2008/06.

Team News

Bryan Cristante couldn’t have timed his return from injury any better, handing Roma a major midfield boost now that Gasperini cannot call upon Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manu Kone. First-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar is also on the sidelines, but there’s a glimmer of hope that Paulo Dybala could at least make the bench on Tuesday.

As for Cagliari, long-term absentees Riyad Idrissi and Mattia Felici remain out of the picture. Harry Winks had to come off early against Bologna last weekend and is unlikely to start tomorrow, with veteran star Roberto Gagliardini expected to take his place in the middle of the park.

Roma vs Cagliari Potential Starting Lineups

Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Balerdi, Ndicka, Koulierakis; Lulli, De Roon, Cristante, Molina; Mora, Soule; Malen.

Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Adopo, Gagliardini, Romano; Fadera, Maldini; Mendy.

Roma vs Cagliari Prediction

While Cagliari deserve the benefit of the doubt for everything they’ve done away from home this season, it’s hard to imagine Roma dropping points here.

Prediction: Roma to Win

Read the original

People in this story

Related