Roma host Cagliari on 27 October 2026 in Serie A's ninth matchday, sitting third and unbeaten through eight games with 18 points and the fewest goals conceded in the division. Cagliari arrive ninth with 13 points from four wins.
Roma have gone draw, win, draw, draw, win across their last five league outings while remaining unbeaten through eight Serie A matches. Most recently they shared a 3-3 thriller with Napoli on 24 October, having beaten Genoa 2-0 on 17 October and drawn 0-0 with Como on 11 October. Cagliari's run has been rougher, with a 0-2 defeat at Bologna on 24 October following a 0-4 loss at Monza on 19 October, both away from home.
Roma are managing a run of absences that cuts deep. Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini are both out with muscle problems, stripping the midfield of its two most recognisable names, while Paulo Dybala is doubtful with a calf issue and Mile Svilar's toe and finger injury means a stand in goalkeeper must organise the back line. Cagliari are without Mattia Felici (long term knee) and Riyad Idrissi (cruciate ligament), which narrows their width and counter attacking options, with Harry Winks also carrying a back concern and listed as doubtful.
Gasperini's 3-4-2-1 is built on pressing high to win the ball quickly, with the wing backs pushing into advanced positions to create overloads while the double pivot shields the back three. The defensive midfield burden falls on Marten de Roon with Koné and Pellegrini absent, he will need to stay between the lines rather than pressing high so Cagliari cannot find Maldini in the channel on the turn. Donyell Malen leads the line with six goals already this season and will look to get in behind Cagliari's defence whenever the press wins the ball high, while Matías Soulé occupies the attacking midfield pockets and Evan Ndicka anchors a defence that has conceded just six goals all season.
Cagliari under Pisacane rely on absorbing pressure and finding Daniel Maldini in space on the break but without Felici and Idrissi those counter attacking options are limited, forcing the visitors to lean more on set pieces and individual moments from Maldini. Michel Adopo screens in midfield behind him while Elia Caprile organises the back line from goal.
Roma will try to force Cagliari into mistakes in their own half, whether Cagliari survive that pressure or hand Malen and Soulé cheap goals early is the question that shapes the match. If Maldini finds space behind de Roon as Roma's midfield shape opens up, that is the likeliest route to a Cagliari goal, making how well Ndicka and de Roon contain him the decisive factor defensively.
Roma have won seven of the last ten meetings against Cagliari, losing just two and remain unbeaten in recent Olimpico encounters. With both sides missing players, set pieces could swing things: Roma's aerial threat from Ndicka and de Roon at corners and free kicks deserves attention, though Svilar's absence introduces uncertainty about who organises the back line under high balls.
Roma's unbeaten run and league best defence make them the likeliest winners even with the midfield disruption. Malen's movement and Soulé's ability to find space between the lines should expose a Cagliari midfield already missing Winks, even if Maldini threatening on the break prevents this from being comfortable. Roma 2-1 Cagliari.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
