How Cagliari are beating the odds and surprising the Serie A
Few European leagues can boast the kind of start to the season Serie A have had. The Italian top flight has emerged right out the gates as one of the leagues to watch this term on the basis of how man...
Cagliari are defying expectations and making waves in Serie A, surprising the league with their impressive start. The Italian top flight has become a league to watch, with several teams outperforming their projections and others struggling to gain momentum. Amidst this mix of success and underwhelming results, Cagliari stand out, not only for their impressive start but also for their alignment with Roberto Mancini's plans for the national team setup.
The team's approach is not characterized by flashy, high-pressure football. Instead, they maintain a cautious style, only pressing high up the pitch when necessary. Despite this measured approach, they sit comfortably fourth in the league, just a point behind the leaders, and boast the best defense in Serie A, conceding only two goals so far.
Fabio Pisacane's team is fielded in a back-four, with Daniel Maldini and Jacopo Fazzini as young attackers who can play centrally or drift out wide. His attacking midfielders, positioned in a 4-5-1 formation, support the midfielders and set up uncomfortable situations for opposing teams right after they have a chance to move out of their initial build-up phase.
Cagliari's defense has been a key factor in their ascension in the table. Elia Caprile, their young goalkeeper, leads the league in save percentage, ensuring opposition have much to overcome even if they breach their solid backline. The midfield has been a bright spot as well, with Harry Winks finding a resurgence at 30 and providing steady passing and positional discipline. His return has allowed young Alessandro Romano more freedom to develop, potentially proving invaluable for both Cagliari and Italy's national team.
With a strong Italian core consisting of Caprile, Romano, Fazzini, and Maldini, Pisacane has built a squad that bodes well for the future. Although their reliance on defense and struggles with creating and converting chances may pose challenges as the season progresses, Cagliari appear on track to finish higher than their current 14th position, with Europe a possible destination.
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