Serie A | Empoli 0-1 Cagliari: Jankto relegation six-pointer

Jakub Jankto gave Cagliari a potentially massive victory away to Empoli in this relegation battle, as Liberato Cacace saw his goal ruled offside.

The hosts were on a fantastic run since Davide Nicola took charge, winning three and drawing three. Emmanuel Gyasi returned from suspension and Szymon Zurkowski was available again, but Francesco Caputo and Alberto Grassi were still not fully fit. The Sardinians had a lengthy absentee list including Leonardo Pavoletti, Marco Mancosu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Pantelis Hatzidiakos and Andrea Petagna.

Elia Caprile pushed the long-range Gianluca Gaetano effort over the bar, but Empoli had a huge double opportunity to take the lead on 17 minutes. First Niccolò Cambiaghi got down the right and his angled drive thumped the base of the upright, then Simone Scuffet parried the Youssef Maleh follow-up off the line.

There was bad news for Cagliari, who were already decimated in attack and lost another striker, as Zito Luvumbo pulled up with a muscular strain.

Mattia Destro’s glancing header on a cross from the right skimmed the far post, while Caprile made a fantastic reaction save to keep out Lapadula’s diving header at the near post on a Gaetano cross.

Straight after the restart, Scuffet had to stop Matteo Cancellieri tapping in at the back stick from a deflected Cambiaghi effort.

Although a cross did strike Makoumbou on the wrist, his arm was very close to the body, so both the referee and VAR waved play on.

Empoli thought they had taken the lead on the hour mark when after a corner Scuffet made a stunning reaction save at the near top corner on the Sebastian Walukiewicz header, but could do nothing on the Liberato Cacace follow-up into the roof of the net. However, it was disallowed by VAR for an offside position.

Instead, Cagliari went in front soon after when Gabriele Zappa pulled back from the by-line for Nahitan Nandez, his attempt was parried by Caprile, but only into the path of Jakub Jankto.

Right in the bottom corner 👏

Claudio Ranieri's team open the scoring ✅

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/JFTMobi0ld

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 3, 2024

The tension was sky high as Cagliari tried to waste time and the Tuscans poured forward, Scuffet making a reaction save at the near post on M’Baye Niang in stoppages.

It was the first away win of the season and puts Cagliari only one point adrift of safety.

Empoli 0-1 Cagliari

Jankto 69 (C)