Cagliari secured a vital 3-0 victory over Monza on March 30, 2025, lifting them six points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. The match, held at the Sardegna Arena, saw Cagliari's attacking prowess shine through in the second half, with goals from Nicolas Viola, Gianluca Gaetano, and Zito Luvumbo sealing the win.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net. Cagliari's Nicolas Viola had the best chance of the opening period, narrowly missing a header from the center of the box after a well-placed cross from Nadir Zortea. Monza's Giorgos Kyriakopoulos also tested Cagliari's goalkeeper Elia Caprile with a shot from distance, but it was comfortably saved.
After the break, Cagliari found their rhythm and opened the scoring just minutes into the second half. In the 49th minute, Viola headed home from close range, assisted by a pinpoint cross from Tommaso Augello. This goal ignited the home crowd and set the tone for the remainder of the match.
With Cagliari leading 1-0, they continued to press for more goals. Gianluca Gaetano, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, doubled the lead in the 73rd minute with a stunning free kick from 25 meters out. The ball sailed past the Monza wall and into the bottom left corner, leaving goalkeeper Stefano Turati with no chance to react.
As the match approached its conclusion, Cagliari's dominance was evident. They controlled possession and created several more opportunities, with Leonardo Pavoletti and Gianluca Gaetano both coming close to adding to the scoreline. However, it was Zito Luvumbo who capped off the victory in stoppage time. In the 90+1 minute, he received a perfectly timed through ball from Gaetano and slotted it into the bottom right corner, making it 3-0.
The match saw Cagliari make several substitutions to maintain their momentum. Gabriele Zappa replaced Tommaso Augello in the 90th minute, while Antoine Makoumbou and Leonardo Pavoletti also came on in the 75th minute, replacing Matteo Prati and Roberto Piccoli respectively. For Monza, Andrea Petagna came on for Dany Mota in the 81st minute, but the changes were not enough to spark a comeback.
Cagliari's solid performance was complemented by a strong defensive display, limiting Monza to just a few clear chances. The visitors struggled to find their rhythm and were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Keita Baldé and Patrick Ciurria both had shots blocked or saved, but they failed to find the back of the net.
With this victory, Cagliari moves to 29 points for the season, solidifying their position in 15th place. They now sit six points ahead of Empoli, who are in the relegation zone. In contrast, Monza remains rooted at the bottom of the table with just 15 points from 30 matches, a stark contrast to their performance last season when they were competing for mid-table respectability.
The match was also notable for the number of yellow cards issued, with both teams receiving cautions for various fouls throughout the game. Cagliari's Sebastiano Luperto and Roberto Piccoli, along with Monza's Armando Izzo and Keita Baldé, were all shown yellow cards as tensions rose on the pitch.
Cagliari's head coach expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting the importance of the victory in their battle against relegation. "We played well today, especially in the second half. The goals came at crucial moments, and we showed great character to maintain our lead," he said in the post-match press conference.
As Cagliari looks ahead, they will aim to build on this momentum during the international break, hoping to continue their climb up the Serie A standings. Meanwhile, Monza faces a tough road ahead as they seek to turn their fortunes around and avoid relegation.
Overall, this match was a statement win for Cagliari, demonstrating their resilience and determination as they fight to secure their place in Serie A for another season.
