Cagliari's early surge clashes with survival reality under Pisacane
Cagliari turned a tough away fixture at Atalanta on 12 March into a 2‑1 triumph, while coach Fabio Pisacane reminded his side that the early surge must still be measured against the club’s survival battle. The win lifted them to nine points after four games, a tally not seen since the Riva‑led golden era of 1969‑70.
Early momentum and new faces
Japanese international defender Yusei Sugawara, who joined Cagliari in the summer, made his club debut as a 67‑minute substitute in the Atalanta win. His appearance marked the first competitive minutes for the Japan national team player in Serie A.
Cagliari’s campaign began with a 0‑1 defeat to champions Inter Milan in the second round. Nevertheless, the side have accumulated nine points after four matches, positioning them well above the relegation zone.
Survival focus amid historic echoes
Opta data shows that Cagliari’s three victories in the opening four league games constitute only the third such start since the 1969‑70 and 1970‑71 seasons. The statistic highlights the rarity of such a start for the Sardinian club.
In 1969‑70, under former Italy forward Luigi Riva – nicknamed “Thunder” – Cagliari captured their first and only Scudetto. That achievement remains the sole league title in Cagliari’s history.
Coach Fabio Pisacane stressed after the match that “we are fighting for survival” and warned that “without sacrifice, cohesion and unity we cannot get anywhere”. He added that while the record statistics are encouraging, “this is only a starting point for continued effort”.
Pisacane noted that among the 682 away supporters in Bergamo, he hoped at least one had witnessed Riva’s era and could appreciate Cagliari’s current position. He cautioned that the team’s limits are real and, without unity, they could suffer a defeat similar to the Coppa Italia second‑round loss to Verona.
Cagliari’s next Serie A challenge arrives on 19 March when they travel to face Udinese away. A positive result would further cement their early‑season momentum and test whether the points haul can be sustained as the club continues its fight to remain in the top flight.