Cagliari vs Roma

Unipol Domus is the venue as Cagliari and Roma go head-to-head in their opening 2024/25 Serie A fixture.

Cagliari experienced a torrid first season back in Serie A last term, but they secured survival by the skin of their teeth. Despite managing just one win in the final seven league games down the final stretch (D3, L3), the Sardinians finished one point clear of the bottom three. It was the fitting ending to Claudio Ranieri’s outstanding managerial career. Davide Nicola will replace the Sardinian fan favorite in the dugout after helping Empoli avoid relegation last season, adding to his ever-growing collection. Before that, Nicola saved Crotone from the drop in 2016/17 and did the same with Salernitana in 2021/22, earning a reputation as a miracle worker. Nicola seems to be the right man for the job, with Cagliari bidding to stay in Serie A following a 3-1 win against Serie B side Carrarese at the start of this week.

On the other hand, Roma missed out on a top-five finish last season by an inch, triggering a massive squad overhaul over the summer. Daniele De Rossi’s men have signed creative midfielder Enzo Le Fee, prolific striker Artem Dovbyk, and prodigious winger Matias Soule. De Rossi hopes for a fast start after overseeing just one win in the final five league games toward the end of last season (D2, L2) as he embarks on his first ‘full’ season in charge of ‘I Giallorossi.’ Cagliari could be an ideal opposition to pave the way for a winning start, considering the visitors’ formidable record across the last 18 H2Hs (W13, D4, L1). Indeed, Roma won both league encounters against the Islanders last term, netting precisely four goals on both occasions.