Gasperini Credits Academy Stars as Depleted Roma Overcome Cagliari 4-2

AS Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini described his side’s 4-2 win over Cagliari as a “precious” result, praising a makeshift squad that relied heavily on youth academy graduates to overcome a severe injury crisis. The victory at the Stadio Olimpico on October 27, 2026, keeps the Giallorossi firmly in the Serie A title hunt, maintaining third place with 21 points after nine matches.

The win was secured despite the absence of several first-team pillars, including Paulo Dybala, captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, and goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Gasperini, who took over the Roma bench in June 2025, noted that the accumulation of matches and the lack of rotation options made the three points particularly significant for the club’s momentum.

Manager relied on academy depth due to a severe injury crisis.

Youth Academy Graduates Spark Turnaround

The match began with an early setback for the hosts when M’Bala Nzola converted a 10th-minute penalty to give Cagliari the lead. However, Roma’s response was driven by its emerging talent. Within 11 minutes of falling behind, two academy products turned the match in Roma’s favor.

Emanuele Lulli equalized in the 18th minute. Just three minutes later, Niccolo Pisilli added a second, ensuring Roma went into the interval with a 2-1 lead.

The tactical reliance on youth was a necessity rather than a choice, according to Gasperini. The manager emphasized after the match that the energy provided by the younger players was the only way to counter the fatigue affecting his remaining senior starters during a congested mid-week schedule.

Late Drama at the Olimpico

The final ten minutes of the match saw a flurry of activity as Cagliari threatened to snatch a point. Daniel Maldini leveled the score at 2-2 in the 81st minute, momentarily silencing the home crowd. Despite the momentum shift, Roma’s bench proved decisive.

Substitute Rodrigo Mora restored the lead in the 85th minute with a well-placed header. The result was put beyond doubt two minutes later when Donyell Malen scored the fourth, finalizing a hard-fought victory secured in the closing stages. Statistical analysis reflected Roma’s attacking dominance, as they recorded 3.02 expected goals (xG) compared to Cagliari’s 2.4.

Two goals in the final five minutes secured the three points for the Giallorossi.

While the victory keeps them within four points of league leaders Lazio (25) and just one point behind second-place Inter Milan (22), the immediate focus for Gasperini remains the recovery of his senior squad. The manager indicated that the “precious” nature of this win lies in the fact that it was achieved while the team was at its thinnest, providing a cushion as they wait for key personnel to return from the treatment room.

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