Cagliari have guaranteed their Serie A safety after Matteo Prati and Gianluca Lapadula grab victory at the Mapei Stadium, as Sassuolo are now on the verge of relegation.
This was a huge battle to avoid the drop, as the Neroverdi were in penultimate place, but only four points behind the Sardinians. Domenico Berardi and Samu Castillejo were still out of action, while Jakub Jankto and Antoine Makoumbou didn’t make the trip, but Gianluca Gaetano and Tommaso Augello returned from suspension.
There were 4,000 Cagliari fans at the Mapei Stadium, knowing a win would guarantee their Serie A status.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Ruan Tressoldi risked a disaster in the opening six minutes, mis-kicking a clearance and then bundling into Gianluca Lapadula, but the striker went down too easily in the penalty area.
Martin Erlic hobbled off with a bruise to the small of the back, but Sassuolo had the first real chance with Andrea Pinamonti steering a free header inches wide.
Gianluca Lapadula saw his angled drive flash across the face of goal to skim the far post and Eldor Shomurodov fired over. Cagliari started to push after the restart, the Gabriele Zappa strike smothered by Andrea Consigli and Zito Luvumbo hesitating on the counter-attack.
Lapadula was brought down in the box, but only after wandering offside, and Pinamonti’s acrobatic bicycle kick flashed off target.
Cagliari took the lead in front of their many away fans when a free kick was pumped into the box, the Lapadula strike was charged down and Yerry Mina eventually laid it off for substitute Matteo Prati to drill home.
Ibrahim Sulemana should’ve added a second, firing wide when set up by a Nahitan Nandez solo run down the right.
Cagliari did seal it when Marash Kumbulla was surprised by an odd bobble on the pitch and clattered into Lapadula for a penalty, which Lapadula converted, even though Yerry Mina had wanted to take it.
The Sassuolo situation got to Matheus Henrique, who was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession, both for dissent. They could even be mathematically relegated this afternoon.
Sassuolo 0-2 Cagliari
Prati 71 (C), Lapadula pen 91 (C)
Sent off: Matheus Henrique 93 (S)
Player statistic
| Kristian Thorstvedt |  |
54' | ||
| 61' | |
Alessandro Deiola | ||
| 71' |  |
Matteo Prati (Assist: Alberto Dossena) | ||
| 76' | |
Alberto Dossena | ||
| Andrea Pinamonti | |
79' | ||
| Gianluca Pegolo | |
79' | ||
| Matheus Henrique | |
90+3' | ||
| Matheus Henrique |  |
90+3' | ||
| 90+1' |  |
Gianluca Lapadula |
Match statistic
Bravo Mister Ranieri!