Match Report: AS Roma V Cagliari 9th February 2026
On 9 February 2026 by Gillyowl
AS Roma 2 – 0 Cagliari
Donyell Malen lit up the Stadio Olimpico with his first two goals on Roman soil, firing AS Roma to a confident 2-0 victory over Cagliari and drawing the Giallorossi level on points with fourth-placed Juventus in Serie A.
From the first whistle, Roma looked sharp and purposeful. Cagliari arrived with a patched-up defence, and the pressure was relentless. Alberto Dossena, making his long-awaited return, was booked inside six minutes after hauling down the lively Malen — a sign of things to come. Evan Ndicka soon headed over from the resulting free-kick, as Roma began to squeeze the visitors deep into their own half.
The breakthrough arrived in style just before the half-hour. Gianluca Mancini spotted Malen’s intelligent run and delivered a perfectly weighted pass. The Dutch forward did the rest — bursting beyond the defence, shrugging off Dossena, and coolly lifting the ball over the stranded Elia Caprile. It was a finish full of confidence and class, and the Olimpico erupted.
Roma were in complete control before the break, barely giving Cagliari a sniff. It marked yet another dominant first-half display at home, underlining just how formidable this side has become in front of their own supporters.
After the interval, Cagliari tried to regroup, but Roma never looked rattled. Gian Piero Gasperini handed Bryan Zaragoza his debut to freshen things up, and the hosts kept probing. The second goal — and Malen’s second of the night — arrived midway through the half. Mehmet Zeki Çelik drove a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, and Malen reacted quickest, bundling it home to seal the points and cap a man-of-the-match performance.
Cagliari threatened only briefly, with Ibrahim Sulemana rattling the bar from distance, but Roma’s composure never wavered. The Giallorossi saw out the closing stages comfortably, extending Cagliari’s miserable run in the capital and securing a vital win after a minor wobble in recent weeks.
The result lifts Roma level with Juventus on points, trailing only on goal difference, and sends a clear message: the race for the Champions League places is very much alive — and the Olimpico is ready to roar them all the way.
Forza Roma. 🐺
