When Udinese met Cagliari on October 5, 2025, the stakes felt surprisingly high for a match that ended in a solitary point each.
Played at the newly‑renamed Bluenergy Stadium (formerly Dacia Arena) in Udine, the game kicked off at 10:30 UTC under the watchful eye of referee Alberto Ruben Arena. The draw kept the Serie A table looking a little tighter, and it gave fans plenty to talk about – from tactical tweaks to a laundry list of injuries that left Cagliari shorthanded.
The opening minutes were cautious; both sides seemed to respect each other’s defensive shape. Udinese’s captain Jesper Karlstroem marshaled a 3‑5‑2 that aimed to overload the flanks, while Cagliari set up in a 4‑3‑2‑1, hoping to squeeze Udinese in the middle.
It didn’t take long for the first breakthrough. In the 23rd minute, Nicolo Zaniolo slipped a clever pass to Keinan Davis, whose low‑driven shot beat Elia Caprile at the near post. The goal sparked a flurry of chances, but both goalkeepers – Razvan Sava for Udinese and Caprile – stayed sharp.
Equalisation came from a set‑piece. After a corner in the 68th minute, Cagliari’s lone striker Gennaro Borrelli rose above the Udinese wall to direct a header into the net, sealing the 1‑1 scoreline.
Udinese’s back three – Christian Kabasele (captain), Saba Goglichidze and Oumar Solet – kept a compact line, while wing‑backs Alessandro Zanoli and Hassane Kamara bombed forward, feeding the midfield duo of Jakub Piotrowski and Arthur Atta. The midfield pivot, Karlstroem, was given freedom to drift wide, creating space for Zaniolo’s runs.
Cagliari, meanwhile, relied on a high‑pressing front three: Alessandro Deiola, Matteo Prati and Michael Folorunsho. Their full‑backs, Marco Palestra and Ze Pedro, pushed high, trying to stretch Udinese’s three‑man defense. Yet the frequent overlapping left gaps that Udinese sought to exploit, especially after the first goal.
The 85th minute saw Udinese bring on Oier Zarraga for Piotrowski, a move designed to freshen the midfield and shield the lead. Only a minute later, Kingsley Ehizibue slotted in for Zanoli, shifting the right flank from attack to more defensive cover.
Cagliari’s bench was thin because of injuries (see next section), but they still managed an impactful change at the 70th minute, pulling Leonardo Pavoletti for the tired Yerry Mina, hoping the veteran striker could add a physical edge.
In the final five minutes, both sides exchanged weary passes, but no further goals materialised. The match officially ended 1‑1, with each side earning a point.
Seven Cagliari players missed the trip due to injury – a list that reads like a nightmare for any coach. Among the absent were forward Andrea Belotti, midfielder Gabriele Zappa, and defender Boris Radunovic. The depletion forced head coach Francesco Calzona to shuffle his line‑up, promoting younger legs like Michel Adopo and Zito Luvumbo to the bench.
While the injuries were a blow, they also highlighted Cagliari’s depth concerns ahead of the next Serie A fixtures. Medical staff expect Belotti to be back by the end of the month, but the club will need to manage workload carefully.
Udinese have traditionally held the upper hand in this derby – 13 wins to Cagliari’s 7 in 27 meetings, with the rest ending in draws. The most recent clash, a 2‑0 Udinese victory on October 25, 2024, seemed to cement that trend. Yet Cagliari’s 1‑1 result on February 18, 2024, showed they could bounce back.
With both teams sitting in the mid‑table after Round 6, the point feels like a double‑edged sword. Udinese missed the chance to climb into European‑qualification spots, while Cagliari secured a valuable point despite the injury crisis, keeping them just a few spots above the relegation zone.
Analysts such as former Serie A midfielder Alessandro Del Piero (quoted on local radio) noted, “Udinese’s tactical flexibility will be key, but if Cagliari can stay healthy, they’re a tough opponent for anyone.”
Udinese travel to Milan next week to face Inter, a match that could solidify their European ambitions. Cagliari, on the other hand, host Lazio at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a test of how well they can cope without Belotti.
Udinese remain in 10th place with 7 points, just three points shy of the Europa League spots. A win in their upcoming clash with Inter could leapfrog them into the top‑seven.
Medical updates suggest Andrea Belotti, Gabriele Zappa and Boris Radunovic will still be sidelined. Their recovery timelines range from two to four weeks, meaning the club must rely on fringe players for the Lazio game.
A potential handball in the box for Udinese in the 54th minute was waved away after a VAR review by Matteo Gariglio. Replays showed a slight touch, but the referee upheld the decision, sparking debate among fans.
Historically, Udinese have dominated with 13 wins out of 27 meetings. However, recent draws and Cagliari’s occasional upsets suggest the gap is narrowing, making each fixture increasingly unpredictable.
Keinan Davis finished a slick one‑two with Zaniolo after a through ball split the defence. Borrelli’s equaliser came from a well‑delivered corner that he met with a powerful header.
Written by Zimkita Khayone Mvunge
View all posts by: Zimkita Khayone Mvunge