Cagliari have guaranteed their Serie A safety after Matteo Prati and Gianluca Lapadula grab victory at the Mapei Stadium, as Sassuolo are now on the verge of relegation.

This was a huge battle to avoid the drop, as the Neroverdi were in penultimate place, but only four points behind the Sardinians. Domenico Berardi and Samu Castillejo were still out of action, while Jakub Jankto and Antoine Makoumbou didn’t make the trip, but Gianluca Gaetano and Tommaso Augello returned from suspension.

There were 4,000 Cagliari fans at the Mapei Stadium, knowing a win would guarantee their Serie A status.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

Ruan Tressoldi risked a disaster in the opening six minutes, mis-kicking a clearance and then bundling into Gianluca Lapadula, but the striker went down too easily in the penalty area.

Martin Erlic hobbled off with a bruise to the small of the back, but Sassuolo had the first real chance with Andrea Pinamonti steering a free header inches wide.

Gianluca Lapadula saw his angled drive flash across the face of goal to skim the far post and Eldor Shomurodov fired over. Cagliari started to push after the restart, the Gabriele Zappa strike smothered by Andrea Consigli and Zito Luvumbo hesitating on the counter-attack.

Lapadula was brought down in the box, but only after wandering offside, and Pinamonti’s acrobatic bicycle kick flashed off target.

Cagliari took the lead in front of their many away fans when a free kick was pumped into the box, the Lapadula strike was charged down and Yerry Mina eventually laid it off for substitute Matteo Prati to drill home.

Ibrahim Sulemana should’ve added a second, firing wide when set up by a Nahitan Nandez solo run down the right.

Cagliari did seal it when Marash Kumbulla was surprised by an odd bobble on the pitch and clattered into Lapadula for a penalty, which Lapadula converted, even though Yerry Mina had wanted to take it.

The Sassuolo situation got to Matheus Henrique, who was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession, both for dissent. They could even be mathematically relegated this afternoon.

Sassuolo 0-2 Cagliari

Prati 71 (C), Lapadula pen 91 (C)

Sent off: Matheus Henrique 93 (S)

19-05-2024 11:30
MatchDay 37

Player statistic

2nd half
Kristian Thorstvedt Yellow card 54'    
    61' Yellow card Alessandro Deiola
    71' Goal Matteo Prati
(Assist: Alberto Dossena)
    76' Yellow card Alberto Dossena
Andrea Pinamonti Yellow card 79'    
Matheus Henrique Yellow card 90+3'    
Matheus Henrique Yellow-Red card 90+3'    
    90+1' Penalty Gianluca Lapadula

Match statistic

50
Possession %
50
7
Total shots
13
Shots on target
3
4
Shots off target
5
3
Blocked shots
5
5
Corners
6
1
Offsides
8
14
Fouls
9
SAS
CAG

Starting lineups

47
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
46'
13
43
Defender
5
Defender
19'
44
Defender
62'
42
Midfielder
57'
7
Midfielder
6
Midfielder
57'
9
Attacker
45
Attacker
22
Goalkeeper
4
Defender
28
Defender
27
Defender
86'
26
Defender
14
Midfielder
67'
70
Midfielder
67'
25
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
89'
61
Attacker
46'
9

Substitutes

23
Midfielder
21
Defender
11
Midfielder
28
Goalkeeper
22
Defender
25
Goalkeeper
15
8
35
Midfielder
19
Defender
19'
92
Attacker
46'
14
Midfielder
57'
24
Midfielder
57'
3
Defender
62'
18
Goalkeeper
30
1
Goalkeeper
32
Attacker
5
Midfielder
23
Defender
17
37
Attacker
19
Midfielder
34
77
Attacker
46'
10
Midfielder
67'
16
Midfielder
67'
33
Defender
86'
99
89'
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