Roma and Cagliari have published their official lineups for the Serie A meeting at the Stadio Olimpico, and the first name that stands out is Malen, who will rest. The match is set for 20.45 in the 9ª giornata di Serie A, with Ermanno Feliciani of the Teramo section appointed to take charge.
That is why the team sheets matter now: this is the last check before kickoff, and it comes with a clear implication for the shape of the game. Andrea Zingarelli and Federico Fontani are the assistants, Maurizio Mariani is the fourth official, Davide Ghersini is on VAR duty, and Giacomo Camplone is the AVAR. On the field, Castro is in the lineup and Pisacane has gone with Sugawara, while Roma are trying to respond after drawing with Napoli.
The numbers behind the fixture give Roma a firm edge. They have won their last five home matches against Cagliari in Serie A and have not conceded in the last four of those games, a run that means they could become only the third opponent against whom they record five straight home wins. Cagliari arrive after two defeats and after losing 4-0 away to Monza in their previous Serie A road match, so another scoreless away defeat would deepen the same problem again.
That is the tension around this one: Roma need a win to keep pace with Inter and Lazio, while Cagliari are trying to stop a slide that has already cost them two matches. The official lineups do not answer every question, especially why Malen has been left out, but they do show how both sides have chosen to attack the night. What follows is the one thing the sheet cannot settle on its own — whether Roma extend that home control or Cagliari finally break the pattern.
