Nzola scores on his debut as Cagliari wins the Vallecas Trophy on penalties.

Cagliari won the tenth edition of the Trofeo de Vallecas: in a friendly against Rayo Vallecano, the Rossoblu defeated the hosts 5-6 on penalties in Madrid, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Nzola scored on his debut, and Caprile saved two shots in the final penalty shootout.

Cagliari, missing half their squad, including seven internationals , started with Radunović; Sugawara, Mina, Kofler, Aurelio; Adopo, Winks, Fazzini; Massolin; Nzola; Mendy. The first half was dominated by Rayo Vallecano, with several saves from Radunović. The Spaniards took the lead in the 24th minute with a left-footed volley from Álvaro García , and came close to doubling their lead in the 29th minute through De Frutos (another Radunović save) and in the 33rd minute through Camello (a shot that just missed the post).

Caprile was immediately in goal in the second half, while in the 62nd minute Ciervo, Gagliardini, and Zé Pedro came on for Fazzini, Winks, and Mina. Youngsters Grandu, Sugamele, and Sulev then replaced Aurelio, Massolin, and Mendy, and one of these, Sugamele, had just come on and fed Nzola into the middle, who tapped in the equalizer in the 77th minute. Three minutes later, Isi Palazón almost made it 2-1 when he hit the post, while for the final minutes (from the 86th minute), Akarakiri and Piro (the latter making his first-team debut) also came on for the Rossoblu in place of Adopo and Nzola.

Valentín, Sugamele, Nteka, Sulev, Fran Pérez, and Sugawara scored in the penalty shootout, before Caprile saved a penalty from specialist Isi Palazón. Gagliardini also missed, however, with Molina blocking his shot. Rayane and Ciervo sent the series into overdrive, with Caprile saving from Pelayo and Zé Pedro scoring the decisive penalty that gave Cagliari the victory .