Lapadula always thinks about it: Cagliari beats Palermo 2-1 and goes within 1 of Sudtirol

A flicker of the usual Lapadula (twentieth goal of the season) gives Cagliari a very heavy 2-1 victory over Palermo.

Ranieri had to give up Prelec at the last minute, knocked out by a gastrointestinal virus and relaunched Pavoletti from the first minute, alongside Lapadula. Cagliari starts well, but slowly Palermo gains momentum. In the 9th minute the two strikers duet, but Pigliacelli is reactive on Pavoletti's conclusion. From here on the rosanero take the field and, in the 16th minute, pass from a corner action: Verre's side and Segre's winning touch.

Cagliari in difficulty, Ranieri brings Deiola back to midfield and the Sangavinese finds the right incursion on Nandez's assist. In the 25th minute it's equal again.

However, Cagliari suffers, Radunovic saves on Tutino and Deiola gives the last thrill, with a header from the back.

In the second half, after an initial blaze from Verre (saved by Radunovic), Cagliari increased the pressure. In the 11th minute, a key episode, with Marconi's expulsion for a second yellow card. Rossoblù in numerical superiority and in the 19th minute the usual Lapadula took care of it, who tamed the ball on the edge of the area and then punched in with a surgical left foot.

Ranieri first brings in Obert and Di Pardo for Dossena and Zappa, then Rog and Kourfalidis for Nandez and Deiola. Cagliari controls without too much suffering and, in the end, takes home the three points that bring it to just one point from the fourth place of Sudtirol.