Serie A

Pisacane’s debut, Pioli’s return

At the Unipol Domus, Pisacane takes charge of his first Serie A Enilive match and Pioli returns after a year in Saudi Arabia

Cagliari and Fiorentina are ready to kick off their Serie A Enilive campaigns at the Unipol Domus. After achieving survival last season, the Sardinians are aiming to secure another year in the top flight, and perhaps a bit more comfortably this time around. Fiorentina, meanwhile, come off a sixth-place finish in 2024/25 – their best in the Commisso era – and are looking to improve even further this season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been 45 official encounters between the two teams at the Rossoblu's home ground, with Cagliari winning 19 (the last 5-2 in Serie A 2019/20), 17 draws (most recently 1-1 in Serie A 2021/22) and 9 wins for Fiorentina (most recently 2-1 in last year's Serie A). In the last 9 seasons in Serie A, there have been five Viola victories. Cagliari-Fiorentina is a match that is being played on the first day of Serie A for the second time. In 1994, it was 2-1 to the Viola at the Franchi with an own goal by Napoli, a penalty equalizer by Herrera, and the decisive goal by Batistuta.

DID YOU KNOW?

Second consecutive safety for Cagliari since their return to Serie A in the summer of 2023. The Sardinians finished last year with 36 points under coach Nicola, as they had done on their return as newly promoted in 2023/24 under coach Claudio Ranieri

COACHES

Fabio Pisacane is the new coach of Cagliari 2025/26, fresh from his triumphs with the Rossoblù Primavera, winners of the 2024/25 Coppa Italia in their category, beating the Rossoneri 3-0 in the final in Milan. Pisacane is one of two debutant coaches in Serie A 2025/26, along with Cuesta (Parma). Stefano Pioli returns to the Fiorentina bench, which he left in 2019. Pioli is one of four coaches at the start of the 2025/26 Serie A season who has won at least one Scudetto as a coach, with Milan in 2021/22. Like him, Sarri (Juventus 2019/20), Conte (five titles between Juventus – three – Inter and Napoli, one each) and Allegri (six, including one at Milan and five at Juventus).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: none

REFEREE

SOZZA (FONTEMURATO – BIFFI) IV: MUCERA, VAR: DI PAOLO, AVAR: GUIDA

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Napoli-Cagliari (Saturday 30 August, 20.45 CEST) Torino-Fiorentina (Sunday 31 August, 18.30 CEST) (Photo LaPresse)