Donyell Malen's double fired AS Roma to a convincing 2-0 victory over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, solidifying their pursuit of European football.
AS Roma demonstrated their ambition in Serie A, clinching a dominant 2-0 victory against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. Dutch forward Donyell Malen was the hero, netting a clinical double to seal all three points for the Giallorossi.
Coming into this fixture, Roma sat fifth in the league standings, aiming to solidify their European qualification hopes. Cagliari, meanwhile, occupied 12th place, looking to build on recent form and distance themselves from the relegation zone. The hosts had won three of their last five, while Cagliari had won three of theirs.
The match began with a competitive edge. Cagliari’s Andrea Dossena received an early yellow card in the 5th minute for a foul. Roma quickly took control, showing intent in their attacking play.
The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute. Gianluca Mancini provided a precise assist, which Donyell Malen expertly finished. He slotted the ball past the Cagliari goalkeeper, giving Roma a deserved lead.
Cagliari attempted to respond but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resolute Roma defense. The visitors collected another yellow card as Marco Palestra was booked in the 40th minute for tripping an opponent. Roma held their one-goal advantage at the interval.
At halftime, Cagliari faced a challenge. They needed to find a way to penetrate Roma’s defense and improve their attacking output to salvage anything from the game. Roma, on the other hand, looked comfortable but sought to extend their lead.
The second half continued with Roma in the ascendancy. Cagliari made a substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on Luca Mazzitelli. However, the visitors continued to struggle with disciplinary issues.
Another yellow card was shown to Cagliari's Gianluca Gaetano in the 61st minute for a foul. Roma then doubled their lead in the 65th minute. Zeki Çelik delivered a superb cross, and Malen once again showcased his poaching instincts, guiding the ball into the net for his second goal.
Roma controlled the remainder of the match, managing their lead effectively. Late substitutions by both teams saw fresh legs introduced. Bryan Zaragoza picked up a yellow card for Roma in the 82nd minute. Cagliari's R. Idrissi received a yellow card in the 89th minute.
Roma's dominance was evident in the statistics. They registered 15 total shots with 5 on target, compared to Cagliari’s 3 total shots and only 1 on target. Roma also held 53% possession and had an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.33, far exceeding Cagliari's 0.35 xG.
This victory consolidates AS Roma's position in the top five of Serie A. Donyell Malen’s double secured a crucial win, maintaining their pursuit of Champions League football. Cagliari will need to regroup to maintain their mid-table status.
