Big shot for Cagliari, who beat Empoli on the day of truth, with a goal midway through the second half by Jankto.
Ranieri fully confirms last week's starting line-up against Napoli, as has never happened before in the season, while Empoli relies on two former players in Walukiewicz and Marin, with Cerri on the bench and Grassi, injured, in the stands.
First quarter of an hour of studying, the good ones would say, or more simply boring. The first ring comes from a right-footed shot from Gaetano, deflected into a corner. And on the corner, Empoli's counterattack with Cambiaghi's close-range shot deflected off the post, while Maleh's rebound is saved by Scuffet.
We immediately return to mediocrity, but in the 31st minute Cagliari loses Luvumbo due to a muscle injury, replaced by Zappa, with Nandez brought back to the midline of the 4-4-1-1. In the 35th minute Destro's close header goes wide. In the 44th minute Cagliari had a great chance, with Gaetano's cross, Lapadula's twisting header and Caprile's reactive save. This may be enough for the first half.
In the second half, Empoli immediately went on the attack and, in the 17th minute, Cacace recovered a ball saved by Scuffet and scored. But the VAR reports an offside by Walukiewicz and the goal is disallowed. Cagliari resists and, in the 24th minute, strikes: Nandez's shot is blocked, Jankto takes it again and hits Caprile with his first center in the rossoblù.
Empoli throws in all the attackers available and pushes in search of an equalizer, while Ranieri covers himself by introducing Wieteska and Azzi for Jankto and Augello, switching to a three-man defense. Confused attacks by the Tuscans, Cagliari defends themselves. There is room for the return of Shomurodov and the debut of Kingstone, to replace Lapadula and Gaetano. Scuffet saves again late on and, after 8' of added time, Cagliari can celebrate their first away win of the season.