Roma's crisis deepens: Brave Cagliari stun ten-man Wolfess

A couple of weeks ago, Roma's Scudetto dreams were alive and vivid. The Wolfess topped the Serie A table and played a strong defensive football, which brought them win after win. However, after the ongoing round, they may drop to fifth place.

Four days ago, Cagliari tormented Napoli in the Coppa Italia and were eliminated by the reigning Italian champions only after the penalty roulette. Nevertheless, today they showed it wasn't a coincidence, as they brushed Roma aside at home 1-0.

Still, their "thank you card" should be sent to the Giallorossi's defender Zeki Celik's address, as the Turk significantly eased Fabio Pisacane's men's job, receiving a red card in the 52nd minute.

Even before that moment, the Rossoblu were more concrete, wasting decent opportunities over Marco Palestra and Michel Adopo. Roma waited for their chance to score and break the rivals, but it never came.

Giant killer brought down by one — Inter over Como to reach first place

Following Celik's dismissal, the Wolfess's boss, Gian Piero Gasperini, tried to adapt, subbing on Devyne Rensch, Evan Ferguson, Paulo Dybala, and Neil El Aynaoui, and, in the end, a sub was the "decisive man" - but Cagliari's!

Eight minutes before the end, while Roma were fighting for their life and at least a point, the Pisacane's golden sub, Gianluca Gaetano, exploited the visitors' poor defensive reaction following a corner kick, controlled the ball with his chest, and smashed it into Mile Svilar's net, causing the ecstatic eruption at Unipol Domus Stadium.

After this disappointing defeat, Roma are fourth, though Bologna could leapfrog them if they beat Lazio (20.00). On the other hand, Cagliari won three priceless points and escaped further away from the relegation zone.

SERIE A ROUND 14

Saturday

Sassuolo - Fiorentina 3-1 (2-1)

/Volpato 14, Muharemovic 45+1, Kone 65 - Mandragora 9 pen/

Inter - Como 4-0 (1-0)

/Martinez 11, Thuram 59, Calhanoglu 80, Augusto 86/

Verona - Atalanta 3-1 (2-0)

/Belghali 28, Giovane 36, Bernede 71 - Scamacca 81 pen/

Sunday

Cremonese - Lecce 2-0 (0-0)

/Bonazzoli 53 pen, Sanabria 78/

Cagliari - Roma 1-0 (0-0)

/Gaetano 82/

20.00: (2.65) Lazio (3.05) Bologna (3.05)

22.45: (2.40) Napoli (3.05) Juventus (3.55)

Monday

17.00: (2.45) Pisa (3.00) Parma (3.30)

20.00: (2.45) Udinese (3.00) Genoa (3.30)

22.45: (4.40) Torino (3.50) Milan (1.85)

***odds are subject to change***