Cagliari and Palermo closed the first half of the match valid for the 32nds of the Italian Cup goalless, with the rossoblùs who missed the great opportunity to unlock the result with a penalty from Pavoletti saved by Pigliacelli.
Ranieri chooses the 4-4-2, with Radunovic in goal, Zappa, Dossena, Obert and Augello in defense, Nandez, Makoumbou, Sulimana and Azzi making up the midline and Oristanio in support of Pavoletti. The first thrill, however, was given by Brunori, after 4', with a right foot defused by Radunovic.
Cagliari grows and becomes dangerous by exploiting the two sides. At 16', Augello flies in the left lane, Pavoletti's bank and Oristanio's high right. In the 22nd minute, the Var signals to referee Marinelli a touch with Mateju's hand. It's a penalty, but Pavoletti lets himself be hypnotized by Pigliacelli and on the rebuttal it is Lucioni who comes close to his own goal, sending the ball first on the post and then for a corner.
The missed penalty extinguished the Rossoblù's enthusiasm, who only became dangerous in the 28th minute with Azzi's header wide. Indeed, it was Palermo that touched the big target, with a right-footed shot by Gomes (in the 46th minute) saved for a corner by Radunovic and then a flash by Vasic (49') saved again by the Serbian goalkeeper.