How Cagliari are beating the odds and surprising the Serie A

How Cagliari are beating the odds and surprising the Serie A Few European leagues can boast the kind of start to the season Serie A have had. The Italian top flight has emerged right out the gates as one of the leagues to watch this term on the basis of how many teams have begun punching above their weight as well as how many have had underwhelming starts five games in. Among the odds-beating sides are Cagliari, who are interesting not just in terms of how they have started proceedings in the new term, but also with regards to how their line-up aligns seamlessly with Roberto Mancini’s plans for the national team setup . While the Isolani are not playing football that could be called “unattractive”, they are also not trying to hand out death by a thousand passes. They’re to remain off the ball, having even refrained from pressing too high up the pitch, and yet they’re fourth in the league table, a point off top, and boasting the best defence in the league, having conceded just two goals. Fabio Pisacane is fielding the team in a back-four, with the forward line being adjusted as per player availability and opposition. In Daniel Maldini and Jacopo Fazzini, he has two young attackers who can operate centrally as well as drift out wide. Off the ball, his attacking midfielders move back to meet the midfielders and set up a 4-5-1; the cramming in the middle helps make things uncomfortable for opposition right after they’re allowed to move out of their first build-up phase. Once they get the ball back, Cagliari look to move vertically. Possession is not something they’ve been hanging their hat on, and in Fazzini and Maldini they have runners who can receive the ball between the lines as well as behind the back line in open space. For all their mobility and verticality up front, it’s the defence that has helped Cagliari climb close to the league summit. In Elia Caprile, they have a young goalkeeper who is leading the league for save percentage , ensuring the opposition have a lot left to do even if they breach Cagliari’s stubborn and compact backline. Midfield is where the team have struck gold. Harry Winks at 30 has found a new lease on life and has been marshalling the midfielders with his passing and positional discipline. This has allowed young Alessandro Romano a bit more freedom in the middle of park, which will work wonders for his development and bodes well for the national team. Already he looks worth every penny of the €6.5 million Cagliari are obligated to pay Roma to make his move permanent. In Caprile, Romano, Fazzini, and Maldini, Pisacane has a young Italian core driving this Cagliari side to new heights. While their reliance on defence and struggles with creating and converting chances at the other end hint at things fizzling out as the season progresses, one can safely assume they’ll finish much higher than 14th this time around, which Europe very much a possibility. Anshuman Joshi | GIFN