Cagliari defied the odds and stunned European hopefuls Atalanta with a thrilling 2-1 victory at the Sardegna Arena on Sunday. This win extends their unbeaten home run to four games and injects crucial points into their fight for Serie A survival.
In a clash between experience and youthful ambition, managers Claudio Ranieri (Cagliari) and Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta) went head-to-head. Atalanta started strong, with Éderson forcing a save from Simone Scuffet early on. Ademola Lookman then played a vital role in their 13th-minute opener, setting up Gianluca Scamacca for a delightful finish over the Cagliari goalkeeper.
Atalanta seemed comfortable under the Sardinian sun, but Cagliari gradually grew into the game. They had a penalty shout waved away after a challenge on Yerry Mina, but Tommaso Augello sparked their fightback with a clinical first-time finish just before halftime, following a great ball from Eldor Shomurodov.
The second half was a tighter affair, with Cagliari’s pressing disrupting Atalanta’s usual free-flowing style. Substitute Nikola Viola became the unlikely hero when he nodded home a precise header from Zito Luvumbo’s cross late in the game, sealing a famous victory for the islanders.
This win lifts Cagliari to 13th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone. Conversely, Atalanta suffers their tenth Serie A defeat of the season and remains in sixth place.
Man of the Match: Tommaso Augello (Cagliari) displayed impressive composure throughout the game and grabbed a crucial goal for his side.
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