Cagliari and Genoa Play to a Draw, Taking Steps Towards Serie A Survival

Relegation-threatened Cagliari has managed to move four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone after holding Genoa to a 1-1 draw at the Unipol Domus, extending the visitors’ winless streak on the road to six matches.

Determined to break a frustrating sequence of seven consecutive Serie A home games without finding the back of the net, Cagliari started positively. Roberto Piccoli thought he had opened the scoring early on, but his goal was disallowed for offside.

The Islanders dominated the early exchanges, but their luck seemed to fade when Florinel Coman’s quick free kick attempt hit the post. However, the hosts eventually reaped the rewards for their proactive play, scoring in consecutive league matches for the first time since November. Piccoli’s clever through ball to Nicolas Viola allowed the midfielder to take a touch past two defenders before firing past Nicola Leali.

Genoa spent most of the half in a passive stance and struggled to create meaningful chances. It wasn’t until first-half injury time that they threatened, with Caleb Ekuban missing a close-range opportunity by poking wide from just inside the six-yard box.

After the interval, Genoa capitalised on the momentum created by the missed chance, quickly equalising through Maxwel Cornet, who scored from Ekuban’s low cross—his second goal in four matches.

In a complete reversal from the first half, the Rossoblù gained a foothold in the match, and Koni De Winter squandered a prime opportunity to give the visitors the lead, heading wide from Aaron Martín’s cross.

As the match progressed towards its conclusion, both sides had opportunities to clinch the win, with each team appealing for late penalties that were both denied. Referee Michael Fabbri rejected claims for a foul on Genoa’s Andrea Pinamonti, while also turning down a handball appeal against Johan Vasquez, adding to the feeling that it simply wasn’t going to be anyone’s night.

In the end, the teams settled for a draw, marking the second time in three seasons that they finished level in both league encounters.

Davide Nicola’s Cagliari will now look to enhance their home form as a lifeline in their ongoing battle against relegation from Serie A, having secured seven points from their last five matches at the Unipol Domus. Conversely, Patrick Vieira’s Genoa is struggling to find their form away from home, and their continued inability to win on the road since late December has impeded their hopes of a top-half finish.