First half goals from Gagliano and Simeone saw Cagliari stun the Italian Champions by claiming a 2-0 Serie A win at the Sardegna Arena on Wednesday evening.
Having secured the Scudetto on the weekend against Sampdoria, the Italian Champions were looking to claim another win in the penultimate match of the season. However, it didn’t go to plan…
GAGLIANO & SIMEONE HAND CAGLIARI LEAD
Muratore had the first effort of the game with an effort that was saved by Cragno, but it was Cagliari who took the lead with eight minutes on the clock when the young Gagliano got onto the end of a cross to tap it over the line. Ronaldo thought he had found the equalizer when he got onto the end of Bernardeschi’s ball, but it was disallowed due to offside. Bonucci threatened with a powerful effort from range just after the half hour, which sailed out by inches at the far post. Cuadrado then had an attempt of his own when his angled drive flashed wide of the far post, while Bentancur struck a strong hit inside the box that was blocked by Cragno’s legs. The Rossoblu were looking threatening when on the attack and they doubled the lead in stoppage time when Simeone controlled the ball, pulled off a feint and then fired straight past Buffon.
BATTLE OF GOALKEEPERS
The Sardinians started the second half showing their determination to add a third goal, and they immediately threatened with an effort from Paloschi that sailed wide of the target. Buffon then proved why he is still playing at the age of 42 when he pulled off an excellent one-handed save to deny Simeone’s acrobatic volley with a one-handed save, but it was then flagged for offside. Cragno was next to be called into action when he palmed away Alex Sandro’s effort over the bar, before beating away Ronaldo’s snapshot. Bernardeschi saw his shot from Matuidi’s cross go wide of goal, before Cragno had the last important save of the game with an acrobatic effort on Zanimacchia’s looping strike. Despite Juve’s attempt to turn the scoreline around, the game ended in favour of the Rossoblu.
Cagliari: Cragno; Walukiewicz, Ceppitelli, Klavan; Faragò, Rog, Ionita, Mattiello; Joao Pedro, Simeone, Gagliano
Juventus: Buffon; Cuadrado, Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Bentancur (Peeters 75’), Pjanic (Matuidi 61’), Muratore (Zanimacchia 61’); Bernardeschi, Higuain (Olivieri 88’), Ronaldo
Subs: Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Demiral, Coccolo, Wesley, Frabotta, Matuidi, Peeters, Olivieri, Vrioni, Zanimacchia