Serie A Showdown: Cagliari Hosts Roma in Crucial Match for European Hopes and Survival
On December 7, 2025, Serie A Matchday 14 features a crucial encounter between Cagliari and Roma at the Unipol Domus. Struggling Cagliari will seek to climb out of the lower ranks, while Roma aims to solidify its position for European qualification. This fixture holds significant importance for both teams, promising a tactically intense and fiercely contested battle.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This Serie A Matchday 14 fixture carries significant weight for both Cagliari and Roma. Cagliari, currently sitting in 15th position with 11 points, is primarily focused on securing points to distance themselves from the relegation zone and ensure their Serie A survival. For the home side, every match at the Unipol Domus is crucial, especially against stronger opponents, as they look to secure upsets to boost morale and improve their league standing.
In contrast, Roma currently occupies 4th place with 27 points, putting them in a strong position to contend for European qualification, and potentially even higher finishes. In a highly competitive league, Roma needs to maintain consistency and continue collecting victories to achieve their season objectives. This away fixture is vital for them to sustain their momentum, as any dropped points could jeopardize their standing in the fierce race for European spots.
Recent Form
Cagliari has been in struggling form over their last five official matches, recording two draws and three losses without a win. Their most recent outing was a 1-2 away defeat to Juventus. Overall, the team has faced challenges on both ends of the pitch, particularly struggling to convert draws into victories.
Roma's recent form has been more consistent, with three wins and two losses in their last five matches. Despite a narrow 0-1 home defeat to Napoli in their most recent fixture, the team had shown good competitive spirit, including a 3-1 away win against Cremonese and a 2-0 home victory over Udinese. Roma's overall performance indicates stronger competitive potential.
Key Players & Injury News
For Cagliari, captain Gabriele Zappa is a key figure within the squad. However, the team faces significant injury woes, with striker Andrea Belotti suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear on September 27, 2025, ruling him out for 4 to 6 months, thus missing this match. Felici is also out long-term with an ACL injury. The potential absence of Yerry Mina could further weaken the team's defense. These significant player absences will undoubtedly impact Cagliari's lineup and tactical approach.
For Roma, Matias Soulé is a central figure in attack, excelling in creating chances and scoring goals. Striker Artem Dovbyk is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks with a rectus femoris tendon tear, potentially returning by mid-December, making his availability for this match uncertain. Evan Ferguson, according to an October injury report, was slated for a late November return, making him a likely participant. However, Leon Bailey sustained a rectus femoris myotendinous tendon injury during his first training session and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante are also key players in the midfield.