Serie A: Fiorentina and Cagliari Battle to 1-1 Draw

Fiorentina and Cagliari Battle to 1-1 Draw

Fiorentina and Cagliari battle to a 1-1 draw with late drama as Sebastiano Luperto equals Rolando Mandragora's early goal.

Fiorentina and Cagliari battled to a 1-1 draw in a fiercely contested Serie A match. Rolando Mandragora's early goal gave Fiorentina the lead, but Sebastiano Luperto's late equalizer secured a point for Cagliari...

Fiorentina came into the match fresh from a 3-0 win over Polissya in the Conference League play-off, with Moise Kean suspended due to a red card in that match. Christian Kouame is reportedly injured. Meanwhile, Cagliari had a tough start under new coach Fabio Pisacane, winning on penalties against Virtus Entella in the Coppa Italia first round. Leonardo Pavoletti is nursing a knee injury, while Roberto Piccoli was left out of the lineup ahead of his expected transfer to Fiorentina.

Robin Gosens made two remarkable defensive plays that could have changed the course of the game. Firstly, he anticipated Gennaro Borrelli at the back post, denying him a potential scoring opportunity. Then, in the 20th minute, Gosens made an even more impressive goal-line clearance when Michael Folorunsho's header from a corner kick slipped under David De Gea's body. This save was particularly crucial as it kept Fiorentina's opponents from taking an early lead.

A late equaliser sees #CagliariFiorentina end level! ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/hG76YKSxcW

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) August 24, 2025

Despite having scoring chances, Fiorentina's opponents failed to capitalize. Gennaro Borrelli had a close-range opportunity that went wide after Adam Obert kept a long ball in play. Additionally, Zito Luvumbo had a chance to score but his finish was straight at David De Gea. These missed opportunities proved costly, as Fiorentina took advantage of their chances and scored a goal.

The game took a turn in Fiorentina's favor when Rolando Mandragora scored a goal. He managed to get away from Yerry Mina and headed in Albert Gudmundsson's cross from the right side. This goal showcased Mandragora's skill and ability to create scoring opportunities.

After scoring a last-minute equaliser, Sebastiano Luperto picks up the Panini Player of the Match award 🏆👏#CagliariFiorentina pic.twitter.com/APkKNwhMEH

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) August 24, 2025

Moise Kean put Elia Caprile to the test with a precise pass to the near post, but the striker had a moment of brilliance lost as he volleyed the ball over from a point-blank range. The set play had been flicked on to the back post, giving Kean a great opportunity to score. Despite the miss, Fiorentina's attack remained threatening.

David De Gea played a pivotal role in denying Cagliari's scoring chances, making several key saves throughout the match. One notable stop was a one-handed push of Gianluca Gaetano's low-driven shot, keeping Fiorentina's clean sheet intact for a significant period. However, De Gea couldn't hold onto everything.

In the dying moments of stoppage time, Sebastiano Luperto headed in Gianluca Gaetano's free kick, catching De Gea off guard and securing a 1-1 draw for Cagliari. The ball was flicked in from 12 yards, and De Gea fumbled it over the line, marking a dramatic conclusion to the match.