SERIE A! SERIE A! SERIE A!
It’s done! Finally, it’s over! Now even mathematics must surrender to the evidence: Cagliari is back in Serie A. It would have taken just one point to certify the promotion’s certainty, but three came with an exhilarating 3-0 victory over Bari, in front of over 30,000 spectators, an arena boiling with support for their team. A sportsmanlike hostile environment that served to bring out the best in the red and blue team, focused, ferocious, and on point like never before. A display of personality and maturity, characteristic of a great team as required by the circumstances: a decisive breakthrough, the stretch needed to bury the minimal hopes of pursuers and once again gift Serie A to an entire city, an entire island, and a whole people. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that success came against Bari, the same opponent faced on that April 12, 1970, the date of a historic Serie A title.
A Serie A that saw many protagonists over a tough and challenging season. Marco Storari, the goalkeeper capable of great feats, returned to Sardinia after the unforgettable spell in 2008; Fabio Pisacane, the corsair of the defense, on the right or in the center; Marco Capuano, plagued by misfortune, the winning ace in the first and last part of the season; Luca Ceppitelli, strong-willed and courageous; Nicola Murru, the future of Italian football; Alessandro Deiola, the academy product, the revelation of the season; Davide Di Gennaro, the team’s brain; Marco Fossati, the worthy alter ego of the playmaker, a complete midfielder; Joao Pedro, class, creativity, and Brazilian-made goals; Niccolò Giannetti, a fighter and ruthless finisher; Diego Farias, goal and assist record holder. And also: Antonio Balzano, the sprinter on the wing; Luka Krajnc, the defense is his thing; Bartosz Salamon, feet like a midfielder and an aerial play specialist; Antonio Barreca, Murru’s twin; Andrés Tello, steel lungs and tightrope walker legs; Marco Sau, removed from the scene by misfortune but always present at crucial moments; Alberto Cerri, the striker who sealed the deal in pivotal moments; Gianni Munari, a veteran expert in promotions; Antonio Cinelli, arrived in January to contribute grit and determination; Rafael and Roberto Colombo, reliable backups in case of Storari’s illness and invaluable dressing room figures. Last but not least, the two leaders only bent by misfortune: Daniele Dessena, the great captain, and Federico Melchiorri, the terror of opposing defenses. A fantastic group coached by Massimo Rastelli, experiencing his third promotion, the most significant. The team’s strength was evident from the names; the coach shaped it, giving it a heart and soul that never faltered even in the face of the tremendous blows dealt by fate. Above all, the Club, led by President Tommaso Giulini, who planned the recovery immediately after last year’s painful relegation, trusting an experienced and competent sporting director like Stefano Capozucca for the reconstruction. The result was a perfect alchemy between the team and the Club, a solid concrete block capable of regaining Serie A with three matchdays to spare after an exciting season.
For the decisive clash, Massimo Rastelli recovers Luca Ceppitelli and Diego Farias. In midfield, alongside Di Gennaro and Deiola, Marco Fossati is positioned on the left. On the opposite side, Camplone relies on the short ones: De Luca, Defendi, Rosina, with the panzer Maniero up front. Cagliari has a furious approach to the game, and Farias is on fire. The Brazilian immediately makes an impact with a couple of surges, and on one of these, his shot narrowly misses the post. Bari is dangerous at 10′: Maniero’s header at the penalty spot, a splendid save by Storari. Then, the former Lazzari shoots from distance, but it goes wide. But it’s Cagliari’s night; at 16′ from a corner, Di Gennaro puts it in from the left, Joao Pedro volleys, and Micai parries. Right after, Di Gennaro fails to control a tempting ball in the box passed to him by Giannetti. At 20′, Di Gennaro is in the spotlight again: a left-footed shot just wide. At 21′, Joao Pedro feeds Farias, a right-footed shot from a decent position, Micai saves with his foot. The goal is in the air and comes at 24′: Giannetti takes advantage of an error on a Bari throw-in, the ball to Joao Pedro, who controls and unleashes a right-footed shot into the far corner of Micai. Contrary to recent occasions, Cagliari does not make the mistake of lowering the bar and settling. On the contrary, the red and blues continue to press, favored by a more open tactical approach by Bari. At 31′, Murru’s cross, Deiola’s header, but he can’t direct it towards the goal. The first half ends with Bari more active, but the red and blue defense is firm, Storari faces no further dangers, and the first half passes without other thrills. The second half starts with a bang. A deadly counterattack triggered by Farias, who serves Giannetti on the left, the Sienese striker returns the ball to the Brazilian in the corridor, Diego breaks free, enters the box, and with a precise right foot, he annihilates Micai. The game is in a safe, and Bari tries generously, hits the post with Rosina, then Storari denies the goal with a feat on De Luca’s overhead kick. Cerri, Tello, and Salamon also enter to participate in the celebration. The final seal at 87′: Joao Pedro from the left centers for Cerri, who arrives running and unloads a left-footed shot behind Micai. Five minutes of recovery, the verdict is written: Cagliari regains its place in Serie A.
