Cagliari Edge Cremonese in Relegation Battle

Sebastiano Esposito gives Cagliari vital win

Cagliari beat Cremonese 1-0 in tense Serie A relegation clash, thanks to Sebastiano Esposito's decisive header. The Sardinians move up the table, leaving visitors in the bottom three.

Cagliari beat Cremonese 1-0 in Serie A relegation battle, Sebastiano Esposito scores winning header...

Sebastiano Esposito's header proved enough to give Cagliari a huge push up the table in this relegation dogfight, leaving Cremonese in the bottom three.

This was a pure battle to avoid relegation, with three points separating the Sardinians in 16th from their visitors in 17th place.

Esposito shines as the Sardinians claim a home victory! 🌟#CagliariCremonese pic.twitter.com/tuuW44MaS2

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 11, 2026

Coming off four consecutive defeats, Cagliari missed Leonardo Pavoletti, Riyad Idrissi, and Mattia Felici, but Alberto Dossena returned from suspension.

Marco Giampaolo had seen improvements since taking the Cremonese job, beating Parma and narrowly losing 2-1 to Bologna.

Youssef Maleh sat out a ban, with Jamie Vardy, Morten Thorsby, Faris Moumbagna, and Michele Collocolo injured, though Antonio Sanabria was now fit for the bench.

Federico Baschirotto made his comeback and Sebastiano Luperto faced his former club.

Marco Palestra’s strike was palmed out from under the bar in the opening minutes, but David Okereke wasted a golden opportunity when slipping and failing to make the most of the inspired Federico Bonazzoli slide-rule pass that sent him clear.

Okereke’s glancing header on a short corner also tested Elia Caprile and Cagliari lost Luca Mazzitelli to a muscular injury on the half-hour mark.

Sebastiano Esposito won it back in midfield and saw his counter-attack charged down by Sebastiano Luperto, while Bonazzoli drilled wide after the restart from a promising position.

Cagliari took the lead when substitute Ze Pedro made an immediate impact, sending his cross to the back post for Esposito to nod into the ground, the awkward bounce beating Emil Audero from a tricky angle.

Sebastiano Esposito is the Panini Player of the Match! 🏆#CagliariCremonese pic.twitter.com/o9SacCfcLy

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 11, 2026

It was so nearly 2-0 when Audero made a fantastic reaction save on Alessandro Deiola’s header from six yards.

There was a special moment as Andrea Belotti made his return after surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament.