Cagliari secures third salvation: Monza overwhelmed 3-0 at Unipol Domus

Cagliari, 30 March 2025 – Salvation strike of the Cagliari who, within the friendly walls of Unipol Domus, finds victory after five games overwhelming 3-0 a Monza ever closer to the abyss of Serie BThree very important points, in short, for the rossoblù who move to +6 from third-last place, currently occupied by Empoli. In the first half, Nicola's men left the ball in the hands of a Monza team that was not very concrete, but after the break they raised the decibels of their game in a powerful and decisive way: it was Monza who took the lead in the game Viola in the 49th minute with a perfect header on a cross from the three-quarter line by Augello. An advantage that allowed the hosts to loosen the reins, who in the final quarter of an hour they sealed the victory with a perfect free kick from Gaetano, who then provided the assist for a perfect diagonal from Luvumbo in injury time.

First half

The teams don't waste any time and start off with an open face: Monza tries to make its presence felt in the red and blue midfield, but in the 7th minute it finds itself exposed on the counterattack of the islanders who on the Zortea-Viola axis they create the first, a real chance to score: on a cross from the winger, the Rossoblu attacking midfielder heads the ball with an excellent third time in the heart of the area but fails to direct it well and it goes wide, passing just a few centimetres from the post. Monza responds immediately and tries in the 11th minute with Mota who, on Castrovilli's pass, shoots with little precision from a slightly positioned position. In short, the match heats up immediately and, given what is at stake in the race for salvation, there are also some moments of tension that are overcome, with Monza trying to keep control of the game but, like Cagliari, who struggle to find width on the wings, lacking in precision and concreteness at the moment of the final pass. The first half thus flows with great intensity but without particular jolts (in the 19th minute a good initiative by Cagliari spoiled by a foul on Turati), at least until its final stages, in which the Brianza players return to Caprile's area with Kyriakopoulos who shoots on the outside of the net. Before the interval, however, there is also room for Cagliari who creates some shivers in the red and white rearguard with a shot by Viola deflected wide by Castrovilli's back who resolves a problematic situation in their own area.

Second half

At half time, Nicola and Nesta decide not to make any changes and to start off better is definitely Cagliari broke the deadlock after just 4 minutes: it all started with a cross from the left midfield by Augello for Viola who, as had already happened in the first half, headed the ball perfectly and this time managed to direct it under the top corner of the goalposts despite the intervention of Turati who only manages to graze the ball. A hard blow for Monza who tries to react with Nesta who, half an hour from the end, inserts Ciurria and Caprari veering towards 3-4-3. Primi Nicola responds with the same coin by replacing Felici and the author of the Viola advantage with Luvumbo and Gaetano. With fresh forces and a new formation, the red and whites regain confidence and the field, but it is Cagliari in the 71st minute who comes close to doubling the score with a cross-shot by the new arrival Luvumbo, which Turati promptly removes from the intersection of the posts. The Monza goalkeeper, however, can do nothing (and perhaps starts slightly late) in the 72nd minute on the free kick taken in the 73rd minute by the other new arrival Gaetano who slots in the ball for 2-0 at half height with his right foot.. The doubling definitely puts things easier for the islanders who in the final quarter of an hour manage to play with greater tranquility and, after having come close to the third on several occasions with Gaetano and Pavoletti (who also hits the crossbar with a header in full recovery), find it right at the last gasp with Luvumbo who, launched in depth by Gaetano, strikes Turati with a perfect left-footed diagonal. The little table

Cagliari (3-4-2-1): Caprile; Palomino, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Adopo, Prati (from 76' Makoumbou), Augello; Viola (from 60' Gaetano), Felici (from 60' Luvumbo); Piccoli (from 76' Pavoletti). Coach Nicola

Monza (3-5-2): Turati; Pereira, Izzo, D'Ambrosio; Birindelli (from 60' Caprari), Castrovilli (from 60' Ciurria), Bianco, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos (from 74' Vignato); Mota (from 82' Petagna), Keita. Coach Nesta.

Scorers: Viola (Cagliari 49'), Gaetano (Cagliari 73'), Luvumbo (92').

Note - Yellow cards: Luperto (Cagliari), Izzo (Monza), Keita (Monza), Piccoli (Cagliari).