Roma beat Cagliari 4-2 in Serie A on Tuesday 27 October. Gian Piero Gasperini said the victory was “more precious” because of the difficulties Cagliari caused.
How the match unfolded
Roma won 4-2 on Tuesday 27 October. An early M’Bala Nzola penalty was prompted by Niccolò Pisilli’s handling offence. Lulli and Pisilli turned the match around within 12 minutes. Daniel Maldini equalised before substitutes Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen secured the 4-2 victory late on.
Gasperini on the difficulties
Gasperini told DAZN Italia: “Undoubtedly, we had a few difficulties today. They were fresher in attack and created problems for us. We are also using the same elements in midfield for every game and the fatigue is starting to show. That makes our victory even more precious, because everyone was involved.”
He also said: “It’s not easy to play so many games without Dybala and Kone, so we can make mistakes, but winning against a difficult side like Cagliari is something to be proud of.”
Cagliari had lost its last two Serie A matches before this game. Football Italia said there are injuries to Paulo Dybala, Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Football Italia said the injury to Mile Svilar was the most unexpected and serious.
Substitutes and Gollini
Daniele Ghilardi came off the bench and provided the cross for the Rodrigo Mora header. Gasperini said: “Ghilardi had some very good performances recently, he probably should’ve come on earlier today, but it was a tough change to make. He has improved so much compared to last season and will get more space.”
Speaking about Pierluigi Gollini, Gasperini said: “He didn’t play 112 games at the top level by accident. I worked with him at Atalanta when he was still a kid, more exuberant and less eager to work hard. We met again here at Roma, but I never had doubts over his qualities.”
Youth products score
Lulli and Pisilli are both products of Roma's youth system. Roma are in the Champions League after a seven-year absence.
He said: “They are extraordinary lads. In the Roma youth team there are always players who love the club so much and that gives them the dream of making their debut here. They are still very young and certainly have talent. Lulli scored with a header today, he was training on that yesterday, because it is not his greatest strength.”
Despite being the shortest player on the pitch, Rodrigo Mora also scored with a header. Gasperini said of Mora: “I’ve seen him do it before. He’s small, but well co-ordinated.”