Dovbyk is there, Roma beats Cagliari 1-0 thanks to the Ukrainian

Rome, 16 March 2025 – La Rome raises its head after being eliminated from the Europa League by Atletic Bilbao and win three points very heavy in the race for a place in Europe beating Cagliari 1-0. A victory of nerves and heart, obtained thanks to a Artem Dovbyk's goal in the 62nd minute who thus responded to the harsh criticism received in this last period of decline. After a first half substantially lacking in great emotions, in which the Giallorossi took control of the game but were unable to scratch the defensive castle of an orderly Cagliari (the only real opportunity was created by Mancini around the half hour mark), the match changed pace, with Cagliari showing greater resourcefulness also in attack, creating a couple of good goal opportunities with Deiola and Piccoli. In the 62nd minute, however, Dovbyk scored his tenth goal of the championship, tapping in a ball that had remained in the six-yard box following a corner, unravelling a rather intricate mess for the Giallorossi. The lead was not enough to protect Roma - who lost Paulo Dybala to a muscle injury after just 10 minutes of play - from the grit and attacks of Nicola's team who threw themselves forward towards the end, crushing the Giallorossi in their own half of the pitch who - left without any substitutions and without Rensch - However, they withstood the shock and took victory.  

Ranieri and Nicola's choices

The Roma coach Claudio Ranieri must do without two important pawns such as Captain Pellegrini – knocked out by fever – and Dybala (who starts from the bench in less than optimal conditions) and focus on 3-4-2-1: Rensch returns to the back three in front of Svilar together with Mancini and Ndicka, with Saelemaeker and Angelino operating on the sidelines and the duo formed by Paredes and the returning Koné to guard the midfield. Instead, Soulé and Baldanzi are behind the striker who is still Dovbyk despite Ranieri's dressing down during the week. Three-man defense also for Nicola's Cagliari, which deploys Mina, Luperto and Palomino to protect the goalkeeper Caprile. Zortea and Augello are entrusted with the two bands, with Prati, Adopo and Deiola completing the midfield. Viola instead comes between the lines, to support the striker Piccoli.

First half

The Giallorossi start with a high pressing to try to crush Cagliari in their own half of the field and as the minutes pass they manage to win control of the game. The phrasing of the Capitoline team seems rather sterile, however, since Ranieri's men are unable to raise the pace and have technical cleanliness at the time of the final pass in front of the team from the island, which keeps the center of gravity low but is very tidy and well positioned on the field. To see the only opportunity noteworthy in the first half, we must therefore wait until the half hour of play, when Mancini, following a corner, hits a right-footed volley that is grazed by Deiola and ends up just wide. What the Giallorossi are most lacking is Dovbyk's attacking contribution, who in the first 35' is barely involved by Soulé and Baldanzi, well held back by the opposing defense. A minute later, however, the Ukrainian striker receives a cross from Soulé and heads the ball wide of Caprile, as happens in the 43' following a corner. Before the break, however, there is also room for an opportunity for Cagliari, which comes from a beautiful vertical action that leads Zortea - in a slightly off-centre position - to shoot out of measure.

Second half

The match restarts with no changes and with a much more determined Cagliari, reactive on second balls and capable of making themselves dangerous first with a header from Deiola, which Dovbyk clears with difficulty from the six-yard box, and then with a header from Piccoli on a cross from the right, which Svilar neutralizes with a decisive save of reflexes. The downside of a Cagliari more unbalanced up front is that in the rossoblù defense the spaces open up and Roma tries to take advantage of it with a counterattack that leads Baldanzi to the vertical pass for Dovbyk who, one-on-one with Caprile, doesn't direct the ball well and is hypnotized by the opposing goalkeeper who deflects it into a corner. The Giallorossi striker manages to make up for it immediately by turning a ball that remains in the six-yard box into the net following the corner kick.

The Ukrainian's goal unlocks the match and also gives the go-ahead to the waltz of the first substitutions: in Cagliari, Makoumbou, Mutandwa and Obert come in, while Ranieri plays the cards El Shaarawy, Cristante and Dybala. The reaction of the islanders is not long in coming and brings the signatures of Piccoli and Mina who between the 68th and 71st minutes test Svilar, who however is still ready. To further complicate things for the Giallorossi, just when the game seemed to be going downhill, comes Paulo Dybala's latest muscle injury, forced after only 10 minutes of play, to give way to Pisilli. Cagliari, on the other hand, begins to believe in the comeback, also throws Pavoletti into the fray and crushes the Giallorossi in their own half who – left without changes – Rensch also lost due to injury, but they still manage to resist stoically and take home three very precious points for the European pursuit.

The little table

Rome (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Rensch, Mancini, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Konè (El Shaarawy from 64'), Paredes, Angelino; Soulé (from 64' Dybala and from 75' Pisilli), Baldanzi (from 64' Cristante); Dovbyk (from 71' Shomurodov). All. Ranieri.

Cagliari (3-5-1-1): Caprile; Mina, Luperto, Palomino; Zortea, Prati (from 64' Makoumbou), Adopo (from 74' Marin), Deiola (from 81' Pavoletti), Augello (from 64' Obert); Viola (from 64' Mutandwa); Piccoli. Coach Nicola.

Scorers: Dovbyk (Roma 62').

Note - Yellow cards: Viola (Cagliari), Obert (Cagliari).