Udinese fought back from a Joao Pedro opener to run riot with Beto’s hat-trick, inflicting a heavy fourth consecutive defeat on Cagliari.
This was a potentially big showdown for Serie A safety, as the Friulani had a five-point advantage over the Sardinians, both hovering just above the drop zone. The hosts were without Gerard Deulofeu, Nehuen Perez and suspended Pablo Marì, so Isaac Success stepped in. Cagliari had Razvan Marin and Leonardo Pavoletti positive for COVID-19, Luca Ceppitelli, Kevin Strootman and Nahitan Nandez injured.
Success threaded through for Beto to fire wide with the outside of the boot, then Beto had an effort deflected just past the near post.
Cagliari took the lead against the run of play following an error in midfield, Dalbert rolled across for Joao Pedro, who took a touch and curled into the far top corner from 14 yards.
Udinese equalised in chaotic fashion, as Alessio Cragno did everything possible with a double save from point-blank range on Destiny Udogie and Beto, but Rodrigo Becao eventually got it over the line.
It should really have been turned around completely, but Roberto Pereyra fired over after Cragno got a hand to Beto’s pull-back.
It was only a warning, because Udinese did take the lead, Pereyra dinking a ball back from the by-line for Beto to volley in at full stretch from four yards.
Beto added a third straight after the restart, as Alessandro Deiola and Success prodded the ball back to send the Portuguese clear on goal, beating Cragno one-on-one.
Keita Balde Diao tested Marco Silvestri, but the fourth Udinese goal was sheer quality. Beto shrugged off defenders to play his way out of midfield, Success threaded through and Nahuel Molina swept it first time to lob Cragno from distance.
Marko Rog made his return after more than a year out with a double knee ligament injury.
Beto threatened a hat-trick, again squirming through a crowd to test Cragno, and he got his treble with a header from point-blank range on Ignacio Pussetto’s cross from the by-line.
It went from bad to worse for Cagliari, Alberto Grassi receiving a second yellow card for a really obvious dive.
Udinese 5-1 Cagliari
Joao Pedro 31 (C), Becao 38 (U), Beto 45, 49, 74 (U), Molina 59 (U)
Sent off: Grassi 82 (C)