Roma vs. Cagliari | Serie A | Pre Match
Roma vs. Cagliari
Following a disheartening midweek exit from the Europa League, Roma will turn their attention back to domestic matters on Sunday, March 16, 2025, as they host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, aiming to extend their scintillating Serie A form under the stewardship of Claudio Ranieri. The Giallorossi’s European campaign came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Athletic Bilbao, where despite a valiant effort with 10 men after Mats Hummels’ early red card, they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at San Mames, overturning a slender 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Rome. The loss dashed hopes of adding a final piece of silverware to Ranieri’s illustrious career, a poignant blow for the veteran tactician who has returned to the club of his heart on an interim basis. Yet, all is far from lost for Roma, who have roared back into contention for a Champions League spot with an unbeaten run of 12 league matches, including nine victories, making them the most prolific point collectors in Italian football this calendar year. As they welcome Cagliari—a club Ranieri once led to glory—this weekend, Roma are riding a wave of five consecutive Serie A wins, a streak not seen since Luciano Spalletti’s tenure in 2016, and they will look to make it six in a row against a side they have dominated at home for over a decade, remaining unbeaten in nine encounters since 2013, with seven victories and an equal number of clean sheets to their name.
The Europa League elimination was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given the circumstances that unfolded in Bilbao. Roma had taken a lead into the second leg, thanks to a hard-fought win at the Olimpico, but their hopes unraveled early when Hummels was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, leaving his teammates to battle with a numerical disadvantage for over an hour. Athletic Bilbao capitalized ruthlessly, scoring three times to flip the tie on its head, with Leandro Paredes’ late consolation strike offering little solace as Roma’s European dreams evaporated. For Ranieri, who has crafted a remarkable career spanning decades and multiple clubs, the defeat marked the end of a shot at continental glory in what may be his final stint in management. However, the 73-year-old’s focus has swiftly shifted to the domestic front, where his interim reign has breathed new life into a Roma side that appeared adrift earlier in the season. With only 10 games remaining, the Giallorossi are firmly in the mix for a top-four finish, a testament to Ranieri’s tactical acumen and motivational prowess—his win percentage of 57.3% as Roma boss trails only Spalletti’s 59.2% in the club’s modern history. Facing Cagliari, a team he guided to a double promotion in the late 1980s and later returned to for another successful spell, adds a personal layer to this clash, but Ranieri’s sights are set on maintaining Roma’s momentum rather than dwelling on sentiment.
Roma’s resurgence in Serie A has been nothing short of remarkable, their 12-match unbeaten streak a stark contrast to the inconsistency that plagued them earlier in the campaign. Last week’s victory in Empoli was the latest in a string of five straight wins, a run that has propelled them back into the conversation for Champions League qualification—a prize that seemed distant during their mid-season wobbles. The Stadio Olimpico has become a fortress once again, and their historical dominance over Cagliari only heightens expectations for Sunday’s encounter. Since a loss in 2013, Roma have won seven of nine home meetings with the Sardinians, keeping seven clean sheets in the process, a record that bodes ill for a Cagliari side scrapping for survival. The reverse fixture on the opening day of the season ended in a goalless draw, but Cagliari have managed just one victory in their last 19 league clashes with Roma, a statistic that underscores the uphill battle awaiting them in the capital. For Roma, the absence of European distractions could prove a blessing in disguise, allowing them to channel their energies solely into the Scudetto race, while Cagliari must navigate a precarious fight against relegation with limited resources and a mounting injury list.
Cagliari arrive in Rome under the guidance of Davide Nicola, Ranieri’s successor in Sardinia, who has steadied the ship since taking over from the veteran coach who retired—briefly—after securing their Serie A status last term. Having masterminded promotion from Serie B in 2023, Ranieri left Cagliari in capable hands, and Nicola has kept them afloat, albeit precariously, with the Rossoblu currently four points above the drop zone with 10 games to play. A survival specialist renowned for his pragmatism, Nicola has steered Cagliari away from immediate peril in 2025, averaging over one point per game since the turn of the year—a respectable return given their modest ambitions. Last week’s goalless draw against Genoa halted a run of back-to-back defeats, offering a glimmer of hope, but their inability to secure a win since December highlights the fragility of their position. Three draws against Lazio, Atalanta, and Como earlier this year showcased their resilience, but facing a rampant Roma side at the Olimpico represents a daunting challenge that could expose their limitations. Nicola’s task is to defy history and muster a performance capable of snatching a rare result against a team that has tormented Cagliari for decades.
Roma’s squad will see changes from the midweek defeat in Bilbao, with Hummels likely to be benched after his red-card fiasco, for which he issued a heartfelt apology to his teammates. Only Zeki Celik is confirmed absent through injury, leaving Ranieri with a wealth of options to reshuffle his lineup. Ex-Cagliari striker Eldor Shomurodov, captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, and the in-form Matias Soule are all in contention to start, with Soule’s record against Cagliari particularly noteworthy—he has scored three goals against them, including his only Serie A brace, and has been involved in three goals across his last four league outings. For Cagliari, Roberto Piccoli will spearhead the attack after scoring against Bologna and assisting against Genoa, potentially supported by Nicolas Viola, who opened the scoring last weekend. However, injuries to Zito Luvumbo, Florinel Coman, and doubts over Gabriele Zappa’s fitness, combined with the absence of goalkeeper Filip Stankovic and defenders Richie Sagrado, Marin Sverko, and Michael Svoboda, leave Nicola with a depleted squad. Ionut Radu, who made two vital saves against Como, will continue in goal, tasked with thwarting a Roma attack brimming with confidence.
For Roma, this match is a chance to exorcise the demons of their European exit and solidify their top-four credentials, while Cagliari cling to the faint hope of an upset that could bolster their survival bid. Ranieri’s reunion with his former club adds an emotional subplot, but his focus will be on delivering another victory to keep Roma’s remarkable run alive. The Stadio Olimpico looms as an unforgiving stage for Cagliari, whose modest expectations may be dashed by a Giallorossi side determined to prove their midweek setback was a mere blip in an otherwise stellar campaign.
