Cagliari vs. Cremonese: a chance to climb

Things are starting to heat up. About a month and a half before the end of the season, Serie A Enilive showcases a relegation battle clash between Cagliari and Cremonese, on Sunday afternoon at 15:00 CEST. The fight to avoid the drop has seen a strong comeback from Fiorentina, who have climbed out of the danger zone after picking up eight  points in their last four matches. The situation at the bottom is beginning to take shape: Verona and Pisa have failed to close the gap, both sitting nine points from safety; Lecce and Cremonese are battling for a place in the sun, with a tie on points meaning a relegation play-off, but attention must be paid to a possible multi-team tie that could complicate matters in the head to head standings. From Torino in 12th place on 36 points downwards, sit Parma, Genoa, Fiorentina and Cagliari who are separated by just six points; none of these teams can afford distractions and, with calculations in mind, it is vital to avoid making mistakes in the key moments of the final sprint.

Crucial moments bring intensity to the head to head

The 90 minutes at the Unipol Domus have great relevance: the Rossoblù and Grigiorossi come into this dangerous meeting after having tested themselves at higher levels during the season.

Cagliari’s campaign has, for long stretches, involved steady progression, designed to keep a safe distance from the most intense part of the relegation battle. The Sardinian side had a good first half of the season, picking up points here and there without ever really falling into long spells without points. Only at the start of 2026 did the team show a slight dip, but their win on 17 January against Juventus boosted them to continue moving towards their objectives. That win over the Bianconeri was followed by victories against Fiorentina and Verona, marking the highest point for Cagliari, coinciding with 12th place on matchday 23. Despite the rise and the reassuring league position, from February onwards, Cagliari stopped winning. In the last two months they have collected only two points from a possible 24, with a run of four consecutive defeats (which is still ongoing). At present they hold a lead of just three points over Cremonese and Lecce, a slim margin to hope for a calm finish to this phase of the season. Fabio Pisacane is searching for positive news ahead of Sunday’s match, and in that sense the return of Belotti could help meet the coach’s needs. Against Sassuolo last week, Il Gallo was on the bench, eager to return to action after the knee injury suffered at the start of the season. In the 2-1 defeat at the Mapei Stadium the team played well in the first half, closed in the lead, played with personality and effective defensive adjustments. In the second half, the game changed also due to the early goal conceded to Garcia, while Pinamonti’s comeback goal felt almost inevitable after the drop in the latter part of the match. Late on Obert had the ball for a possible 2-2, gifted by Muric, but the Slovakian international shot over with an open goal. There is no need to blame individuals, as Cagliari know they must first demand concrete responses from the attacking department, returning to make the most of their home advantage, which had been very valuable until January. At the Unipol Domus, in recent matches against Como and Napoli, the Rossoblù have still shown they are mentally present, perhaps also affected by a difficult schedule. This line of reasoning holds up until Sunday afternoon’s match, an occasion in which the home side will need to show they are back to full strength.

Cremonese have certainly shown signs of life following their change of Coach. The explosive debut away at Parma on 21 March immediately put coach Giampaolo in the spotlight, the mastermind behind a revitalising 0-2 win. A week later, the 1-2 home defeat to Bologna was seen as a step back compared to the spirited performance at the Tardini. There is no drama for Cremo: they have what it takes to try, and the upcoming fixtures present several matches against teams that, on paper, may have little left to play for in terms of final standings. In any case, taking all three points in Sardinia would drag Cagliari into the battle, adding uncertainty to how the story ends. The two-sided journey of the Grigiorossi in the Serie A Enilive 2025/26 season has already been discussed: the 24 points in 29 matches under Davide Nicola are not to be dismissed and, if the city can dream of staying another year in the top flight, much of the credit goes to the excellent work of the former coach in the first half of the season. Giampaolo now faces the difficult task of holding firm and carving out a dream, as he did last year with Lecce, which he took over during the season and guided to safety on the final day at the Olimpico against Lazio. The main issue ahead of this direct clash will be managing a midfield that is short on numbers. The suspended Maleh and the injured Thorsby will be absent, along with long term absentee Collocolo; as a result, Grassi should find space. In attack, responsibility rests on the broad shoulders of Bonazzoli, who scored a penalty in the last round, alongside the now established partnership with target-man Đurić.

The first meeting in Cremona

Three months have passed since the meeting in the first half of the season on 8 January. The opening phase of the match at the Zini was dominated by the side from Lombardy, who surged into a 2-0 lead within the first half hour thanks to goals from Johnsen and Vardy. In the second half Pisacane’s team transformed, reopening the contest with a goal from Adopo; Cremonese held firm for a long time, resisting the pressure and the Rossoblù attacks. Near the end Pisacane decided to throw young 2006-born Yael Trepy into the mix and it was the Frenchman himself who struck two minutes before full time to make it 2-2.
A significant result, to be considered both for the standings and in case of a tie on points at the end of the season.
The legacy of that match brings with it the desire to enjoy part two of Cagliari Cremonese, a unique opportunity to step back into the light.