AS Roma will be keen to rediscover their winning touch when they welcome Cagliari Calcio on Monday night.
AS Roma return to Stadio Olimpico on Monday night knowing that momentum, rather than margin, has become the defining factor of their season. After three matches without a victory, the Giallorossi are searching for a spark to reignite their push toward the top four, a target that remains within reach but increasingly crowded.
Roma’s recent results tell a nuanced story. Consecutive draws against AC Milan and Panathinaikos, the latter achieved away from home with ten men and enough to secure a top-eight Europa League finish. Yet that credit was quickly eroded by a subdued performance against Udinese, where Gian Piero Gasperini’s side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat after conceding from a deflected set piece. The lack of attacking incision on that occasion raised questions about sharpness at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Still, perspective matters. Roma have won 14 of their 23 Serie A matches this season, their strongest return at this point since 2017, a campaign that ultimately ended with a second-place finish. The foundations remain solid, but with Juventus, Como, and Atalanta all pressing in the race for Champions League qualification, dropped points now carry heavier consequences.
Home form could prove decisive. Roma have beaten Cagliari in each of their last three meetings at the Olimpico without conceding, a trend that reinforces the sense that this is a fixture they typically manage with authority. With little margin for error in the top-four race, Monday’s contest feels less like an opportunity and more like an obligation.
Cagliari, however, arrive in the capital with confidence that few would have predicted earlier in the season. December’s 1-0 home victory over Roma not only ended a long drought in this fixture but also acted as a turning point in their campaign. That result halted a slide toward the bottom end of the table and ignited a revival that has since gathered momentum.
The Rossoblu are unbeaten in three straight league matches, matching their total wins from the previous 17, and now sit comfortably in mid-table. Recent victories over Juventus and Fiorentina were statements in themselves, but last week’s emphatic 4-0 dismantling of Hellas Verona was perhaps the clearest sign of a side playing with freedom and clarity. Another win would give Cagliari four consecutive Serie A victories for the first time since October 2012.
Much of the credit belongs to rookie head coach Fabio Pisacane. Regardless of Monday’s outcome, Cagliari have already accumulated their highest points total at this stage of a top-flight season in six years, effectively steering themselves toward a fourth straight year in Serie A and validating Pisacane’s long-term promise.
This sets up a compelling contrast: Roma, driven by ambition and expectation, versus a Cagliari side liberated by momentum and confidence. One is chasing Europe, the other consolidating progress, and both arrive with something tangible on the line. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
AS Roma
Roma continue to contend with several significant absences as they look to halt a recent dip in form. Manu Kone remains unavailable, depriving the midfield of energy and ball-winning presence, while Paulo Dybala is again sidelined through injury, denying the Giallorossi their most creative attacking outlet. Stephan El Shaarawy is also expected to miss out, further limiting options in wide areas.
In attack, Artem Dovbyk and Robinio Vaz are both unavailable, leaving Roma short of recognised forwards. There is a possibility that Evan Ferguson could return to the matchday squad after injury, while January loan signing Bryan Zaragoza may be in contention to make his debut, although both are more likely to feature from the bench. There are no suspension concerns to report.
With those constraints in mind, Donyell Malen is set to continue leading the line and has quickly become central to Gian Piero Gasperini’s attacking plans. Despite scoring just once since his move from Aston Villa last month, Malen has been heavily involved, ranking second in Serie A for shots over that period. His work rate, movement across the front line, and willingness to attack space have earned strong backing from Gasperini, even as Roma look to improve their efficiency in front of goal.
Tactically, Roma are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, aimed at controlling central areas while creating overloads between the lines. Mile Svilar should start in goal, protected by a back three consisting of Gianluca Mancini on the right, Evan Ndicka in the central role, and Daniele Ghilardi on the left. This trio offers a blend of physicality, aerial strength, and ball progression from deep.
Across midfield, Zeki Celik is likely to operate as the right wing-back, providing defensive discipline and forward support, while Wesley should start on the left, offering pace and width. In the centre, Bryan Cristante is expected to anchor the midfield alongside Neil El Aynaoui, a pairing tasked with balancing positional control and ball circulation.
In advanced positions, Matias Soule and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini are likely to operate as the two attacking midfielders behind the striker. Pellegrini’s late runs and distribution remain crucial, while Soule’s ability to carry the ball and create chances in tight spaces adds unpredictability. At the tip of the system, Donyell Malen should once again lead the attack as the lone striker, charged with converting Roma’s territorial advantage into goals.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Ghilardi; Celik, Cristante, El Aynaoui, Wesley; Soule, Pellegrini; Malen
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari head to the capital with relatively few selection headaches. Michael Folorunsho, Andrea Belotti, and Mattia Felici all remain sidelined and will not be available, but beyond that trio, Fabio Pisacane has a largely healthy squad to call upon. There are no suspension concerns, allowing the Rossoblu to maintain continuity after a run of strong league results.
In attack, Semih Kilicsoy is expected to continue leading the line. The Besiktas loanee has made a rapid impact since the turn of the year and resisted competition from Gennaro Borrelli to retain his starting role. Kilicsoy’s Serie A tally rose to four goals last week, underlining his growing confidence and importance to Cagliari’s resurgence. He is likely to be supported by Sebastiano Esposito, whose movement and link play complement Kilicsoy’s direct threat.
One of Cagliari’s most consistent performers this season has been Marco Palestra. The energetic wing-back, who made his Serie A debut under Gian Piero Gasperini during their time together at Atalanta, has carried that trust into his current role. His relentless running and timing in advanced areas have produced five goal involvements so far, making him a key outlet on the flank.
Tactically, Cagliari are expected to set up in a 3-5-2 formation, designed to provide defensive solidity while allowing wing-backs to drive transitions. Elia Caprile should start in goal, marshaling a back three that is likely to include Ze Pedro on the right, Yerry Mina as the central defensive leader, and Juan Rodriguez on the left, offering physical presence and aerial strength.
Across midfield, Marco Palestra is expected to operate as the right wing-back, with Adam Obert filling the left-sided role, both tasked with supplying width and support at both ends of the pitch. In the centre, Michel Adopo should provide balance and ball-winning ability, alongside Gianluca Gaetano, who offers creativity between the lines, and Luca Mazzitelli, whose experience and work rate help knit the midfield together. Up front, Sebastiano Esposito is likely to play off Semih Kilicsoy, operating in pockets of space and linking midfield to attack.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Caprile; Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez; Palestra, Adopo, Gaetano, Mazzitelli, Obert; Esposito, Kilicsoy
Key Stats
- AS Roma have won 14 of their first 23 Serie A matches, their best return at this stage of a season since 2017, when they went on to finish as runners-up.
- Roma have kept clean sheets in each of their last three home league meetings with Cagliari, winning all three games at the Stadio Olimpico without conceding.
- Cagliari have won their last three Serie A matches, equalling their total number of league wins from the previous 17 fixtures combined.
- Cagliari are seeking four consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since October 2012.
- Cagliari won the reverse fixture 1-0 in December, giving them a chance to complete a rare league double over Roma for only the second time in their history.
Player to Watch
Lorenzo Pellegrini
In a Roma side searching for renewed attacking clarity, Lorenzo Pellegrini’s influence becomes even more pronounced. With several creative options unavailable, the experienced midfielder is once again expected to shoulder responsibility as the connective force between midfield control and attacking incision.
Operating in an advanced midfield role, Pellegrini offers Roma something few others in the squad can replicate: timing. His late runs into the box, intelligent positioning between the lines, and ability to deliver decisive final balls make him a constant reference point in Roma’s attacking structure. Even when he is not directly involved in goals, his movement often creates space for others to exploit, particularly important against a Cagliari side that prefers a compact defensive shape.
Beyond the tactical dimension, Pellegrini’s leadership is central to Roma’s response after a recent dip in results. At home, where Roma traditionally set the tempo early, his ability to dictate rhythm and raise intensity could define the match’s direction. Set pieces also remain a key weapon, and Pellegrini’s delivery from dead-ball situations continues to be one of Roma’s most reliable sources of danger.
If Roma are to turn territorial dominance into tangible reward on Monday night, Pellegrini is the player most likely to provide the moment of quality that breaks the contest open.
Prediction
AS Roma 2-1 Cagliari
Roma return to Stadio Olimpico under pressure to steady their Champions League push, and this fixture offers a timely opportunity to do so. Despite recent inconsistency, their overall home record and historical dominance over Cagliari in Rome suggest they remain well placed to respond.
Cagliari arrive in excellent form and with genuine belief after three straight league wins, but sustaining that momentum away to a top-four contender is a different test altogether. Roma’s greater depth, territorial control, and leadership through players like Lorenzo Pellegrini should gradually assert itself.