CAGLIARI, Italy (Interstat) — In a tense and tightly contested Serie A match defying pregame projections, Cagliari secured a narrow 1-0 victory over AS Roma at Unipol Domus on Sunday, December 7, 2025. The lone goal, a late strike from midfielder Gianluca Gaetano, decided a contest that saw the visiting Roma reduced to 10 men for the entire second half.

The match’s pivotal moment arrived in the 52nd minute when Roma defender Zeki Çelik was shown a straight red card, forcing his team to play at a numerical disadvantage for the final 38 minutes plus stoppage time. Despite this setback, Roma’s organized defense managed to frustrate a Cagliari side that had been favored by statistical models. Data firm Interstat’s pregame simulator had predicted a 1-0 Roma victory, while its ELO rating system gave Cagliari a 59.8 percent probability to win, forecasts rendered obsolete by the match’s dramatic flow.

Cagliari, however, struggled to break down the resolute Roma backline until a flurry of action in the final 15 minutes. The breakthrough came in the 82nd minute, engineered by the day’s standout performer. Midfielder Michael Folorunsho, who had entered the match as a substitute, initiated the move, feeding the ball to fellow substitute Mario Hermoso on the left flank. Hermoso’s first-time cross found Gianluca Gaetano unmarked in the center of the penalty area, and the midfielder made no mistake with a composed finish for his first goal of the season.

The goal sequence was immediately preceded by a heated exchange that resulted in yellow cards for both Folorunsho and Hermoso in the 78th minute. Gaetano himself entered the referee’s book for his exuberant celebration just one minute after scoring his decisive goal.

The result provides an ideal start to the Serie A campaign for the home side, lifting Cagliari’s record to one win and no losses in the competition, mirroring their perfect start across all contests this season. For AS Roma and new manager — the club’s first official match under his leadership — the defeat marks a disappointing beginning. Roma’s record in Serie A and across all competitions falls to no wins and one loss, with the team now tasked with regrouping after a match defined by defensive discipline undone by a single moment of offensive quality and the earlier dismissal.

The victory underscores Cagliari’s potential to outperform expectations this season, capitalizing on a key opportunity at home. For Roma, the performance, even in defeat with 10 men, showed defensive resilience but highlighted an urgent need to find attacking solutions, especially in adverse circumstances, as the long season progresses.