Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday in midweek Serie A action, with both sides looking to bounce back from disappointing weekend results. Roma came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Maradona Stadium on Saturday, while Cagliari lost 2-0 at home to Bologna.
Gian Piero Gasperini's side remain unbeaten in Serie A (W5, D3) and have avoided defeat in their first eight league matches of the season for the first time since 2013/14. However, a third draw in their last four league outings has left the Giallorossi four points behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Roma are vying for their first Scudetto since the beginning of the century and will be desperate to return to winning ways against a Cagliari side they have enjoyed plenty of success against at the Olimpico lately.
Fabio Pisacane's team face a stern test. Cagliari have suffered nine defeats in their last 11 league visits to Rome (D2) and have not scored in any of their four away league meetings with Roma since 2022 (L4), including a 2-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture last season. Bologna's win condemned Cagliari to back-to-back league defeats for the first time since April, and the Sardinians have slipped to mid-table after a promising five-game start (W4, L1). They are winless in three consecutive league games (D1, L2), following a 4-0 defeat at Monza on their last Serie A trip. Their defence has also struggled: after conceding just twice in the opening five rounds, they have let in seven goals in their last three league outings. Cagliari last beat Roma at the Olimpico in February 2013.
Roma have been strong at home, winning three of their four home league matches in 2026/27 (D1) and scoring at least two goals on each occasion. They have lost only one of their last 11 home games in all competitions (W8, D2), the exception being a 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid in this season's Champions League. The Giallorossi have won six of their last seven Tuesday Serie A fixtures (L1) and have netted two or more goals in eight consecutive home outings. That feat has been managed in three of their last five home clashes against Cagliari. Gasperini's attacking football has not come at the expense of defensive stability, as Roma have conceded just one first-half goal in Serie A this season and have opened the scoring in 63% of their league matches.
Cagliari have been much more impressive away from home, with three wins from four league games on the road (L1), just one shy of the four road victories they recorded in the whole of the 2025/26 season. Maintaining that form would significantly boost their chances of a first top-half finish in Serie A since 2008/06.
Bryan Cristante has returned from injury at a good time for Roma, giving the team a major midfield boost, as Gasperini cannot call upon Lorenzo Pellegrini or Manu Kone. First-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar is also sidelined, but Paulo Dybala could make the bench on Tuesday. For Cagliari, long-term absentees Riyad Idrissi and Mattia Felici remain out. Harry Winks had to come off early against Bologna and is unlikely to start, with veteran Roberto Gagliardini expected to take his place in midfield.
Roma (3-4-2-1): Gollini; Balerdi, Ndicka, Koulierakis; Lulli, De Roon, Cristante, Molina; Mora, Soule; Malen.
Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Adopo, Gagliardini, Romano; Fadera, Maldini; Mendy.
Roma are the favourites, with the preview predicting a Roma win.
Story Coverage2 sources on this story
Roma host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday in midweek Serie A action, with both sides looking to bounce back from disappointing weekend results. The outlets differ on the Napoli match: Forza Roma reports a 1-1 draw at the Maradona, while Cult of Calcio describes a 3-3 draw in which Roma came back from two goals down. Cult of Calcio adds that Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A (W5, D3) but are four points behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio, and that Cagliari lost 2-0 at home to Bologna.
Cult of Calcio notes that Roma have won six of their last seven Tuesday league fixtures and have scored at least two goals in eight straight home games. Cagliari have lost nine of their last 11 league visits to Rome and have not scored in any of their last four away league meetings with Roma. They have not beaten Roma at the Olimpico since February 2013, though they have won three of their four away league games this season. Forza Roma, which is coached by Gasperini against Pisacane's Cagliari, reports that Cagliari come in on the back of heavy defeats to Monza and Bologna.
The line-ups are where the sources differ most. Forza Roma names a 3-4-2-1 with Castro up front and Balerdi among the substitutes, and gives Cagliari a 5-4-1 with Nzola leading the line. Cult of Calcio has Balerdi starting, Mora and Soulé in attack with Malen, and Cagliari in a 4-3-2-1 with Maldini and Mendy. Both agree Cristante is back for Roma, while Pellegrini, Kone and Svilar are out. Cult of Calcio adds that Dybala could be on the bench and that Gagliardini is expected to start for Cagliari in place of the unlikely Winks.
AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.