In a pivotal encounter within the context of the relegation battle, Jakub Jankto significantly contributed to Cagliari’s potential victory away against Empoli, amidst a match where Liberato Cacace’s goal was disallowed due to an offside call.
Empoli, under the stewardship of Davide Nicola, had been enjoying a commendable run, securing victories in three matches and drawing in three others. The return of Emmanuel Gyasi from suspension and the availability of Szymon Zurkowski bolstered their lineup, albeit Francesco Caputo and Alberto Grassi remained sidelined due to incomplete fitness. Conversely, Cagliari faced a significant absence in their squad, with players such as Leonardo Pavoletti, Marco Mancosu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Pantelis Hatzidiakos, and Andrea Petagna unavailable for selection.
During the encounter, Elia Caprile thwarted a long-range effort by Gianluca Gaetano, while Empoli squandered a notable double opportunity to seize the lead in the 17th minute. Niccolò Cambiaghi’s strike hit the base of the upright after a run down the right flank, followed by Simone Scuffet’s save from Youssef Maleh’s follow-up attempt.
Cagliari suffered a setback with Zito Luvumbo succumbing to a muscular injury, further depleting their attacking options. Mattia Destro came close to scoring with a glancing header, only to see his effort skim the far post, while Caprile produced a remarkable save to deny Lapadula’s header.
Shortly after the restart, Scuffet thwarted Matteo Cancellieri’s close-range effort from a deflected Cambiaghi shot. Despite a contentious handball incident involving Makoumbou, play continued following referee and VAR consultation.
Empoli appeared to have broken the deadlock when Sebastian Walukiewicz’s header was saved by Scuffet, only for Liberato Cacace to net the rebound. However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal due to an offside infringement.
Subsequently, Cagliari seized the initiative as Gabriele Zappa’s cutback found Nahitan Nandez, whose shot was initially saved by Caprile before Jankto pounced on the loose ball.
As the match approached its climax, tension heightened as Cagliari aimed to manage the game’s tempo while Empoli launched waves of attacks. Scuffet once again demonstrated his agility with a late save from M’Baye Niang’s effort.
This triumph marks Cagliari’s first away win of the season, narrowing the gap to safety by a solitary point.
Empoli 0-1 Cagliari