Cagliari-Lazio 0-0 in the 45th minute: Zé Pedro hits the post, injuring Mazzitelli.

Cagliari-Lazio finished 0-0 in the first half. There weren't many chances, the best being a post hit by Zé Pedro. Mazzitelli was injured and replaced by Idrissi.

Cagliari lined up with a 4-3-3 formation that often transitions into a 3-5-2 during the build-up phase . The first notable opportunity awaited the 14th minute, but it was a huge one: a corner kick from the right, and Zé Pedro's header hit the post, with Provedel standing by and watching. Lazio's first chance also came from a corner, with former player Luca Pellegrini beating the ball in the 19th minute, and Zaccagni's header at the near post went over.

Cagliari came very close to making it 1-0 in the 24th minute: Obert sent in a great cross from the left, Adopo made a perfect run, and Provedel's header went just wide of the left post . The first yellow card was shown in the 26th minute, when Mina stopped Maldini's run in the middle. From a Pellegrini free kick, Provstgaard's header at the far post was easily saved by Caprile.

Lazio threatened in the 29th minute, with Marušić, freed on the right, reaching the byline and crossing low for Zaccagni, who narrowly missed the save with a slide tackle. Another corner, with Mazzitelli turning over, stemmed from a superb run by Palestra, who escaped in style from Provstgaard. Cagliari made their presence felt in the 36th minute, with Palestra passing to Adopo and a low cross from Esposito, whose powerful shot went just wide .

Taylor nearly scored from the byline in the 38th minute, with a cross-shot headed out for a corner by Caprile. Before halftime, in the 42nd minute, Pisacane was forced to make a substitution: Mazzitelli had yet another injury, this time a suspected muscle problem, and Idrissi came on . Halftime was played after two minutes of added time.