Hellas Verona’s struggles continued as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Cagliari at the Unipol Domus, leaving Paolo Zanetti’s side perilously close to the Serie A relegation zone. A second-half goal from substitute Roberto Piccoli sealed the points for the hosts, who ended their five-match winless run to climb to 14 points, while Verona remained just two points above the drop zone.
After a week in a training camp designed to galvanise the team, Verona’s crisis showed no signs of abating. The match began poorly for the visitors as Dani Silva picked up an injury in the warm-up, forcing Zanetti to field Belahyane, who had initially been left out of the starting XI. Despite this setback, Verona started brightly, with Tino Livramento causing problems down the flank.
Cagliari, however, created the better chances in the first half. Piccoli’s early effort forced Lorenzo Montipò into action, while the Verona goalkeeper produced an excellent save to deny Alessandro Zappa from close range just before the half-hour mark. At the other end, both Luvumbo and Darko Lazović missed opportunities for the visitors, leaving the match goalless at the break.
Second-Half Struggles
Verona started the second half positively, with Jens Tengstedt testing the Cagliari defence and Lazović rattling the crossbar in the 55th minute. Despite their attacking intent, Verona failed to capitalise on their momentum. Cagliari boss Davide Nicola responded with tactical changes, shifting to a 4-4-1-1 formation with Felici and Luvumbo operating as wide threats.
The decisive moment came in the 76th minute. Substitute Felici delivered a precise assist for Roberto Piccoli, who slotted home expertly to give Cagliari the lead. The former FeralpiSalò striker was the star of the match, almost doubling his tally in the 88th minute, only to be thwarted by Montipò and Diego Coppola.
Desperation for Verona
In the closing stages, Cagliari defended resolutely as Verona threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. However, Zanetti’s tactical adjustments, which left Sarr as the lone offensive option, failed to bear fruit. The defeat marked Verona’s sixth loss in their last seven matches, leaving them on 12 points and deepening the uncertainty surrounding Zanetti’s future at the helm.
For Cagliari, the victory was a vital boost. Nicola’s side now sit on 14 points, two clear of Verona, and will take confidence from a gritty performance that saw them grind out a much-needed win.
What’s Next?
Pressure is mounting on Zanetti, whose side are in freefall, with the relegation zone looming ominously. For Cagliari, this result provides a platform to build upon as they look to move further away from danger. The contrasting emotions of the two managers were evident at full time, with Nicola breathing a sigh of relief while Zanetti faces an uncertain future.
Hellas Verona Fall to Cagliari as Pressure Mounts on Zanetti
Hellas Verona’s struggles continued as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Cagliari at the Unipol Domus, leaving Paolo Zanetti’s side perilously close to the Serie A relegation zone. A second-half goal from substitute Roberto Piccoli sealed the points for the hosts, who ended their five-match winless run to climb to 14 points, while Verona remained just two points above the drop zone.
After a week in a training camp designed to galvanise the team, Verona’s crisis showed no signs of abating. The match began poorly for the visitors as Dani Silva picked up an injury in the warm-up, forcing Zanetti to field Belahyane, who had initially been left out of the starting XI. Despite this setback, Verona started brightly, with Tino Livramento causing problems down the flank.
Cagliari, however, created the better chances in the first half. Piccoli’s early effort forced Lorenzo Montipò into action, while the Verona goalkeeper produced an excellent save to deny Alessandro Zappa from close range just before the half-hour mark. At the other end, both Luvumbo and Darko Lazović missed opportunities for the visitors, leaving the match goalless at the break.
Verona started the second half positively, with Jens Tengstedt testing the Cagliari defence and Lazović rattling the crossbar in the 55th minute. Despite their attacking intent, Verona failed to capitalise on their momentum. Cagliari boss Davide Nicola responded with tactical changes, shifting to a 4-4-1-1 formation with Felici and Luvumbo operating as wide threats.
The decisive moment came in the 76th minute. Substitute Felici delivered a precise assist for Roberto Piccoli, who slotted home expertly to give Cagliari the lead. The former FeralpiSalò striker was the star of the match, almost doubling his tally in the 88th minute, only to be thwarted by Montipò and Diego Coppola.
In the closing stages, Cagliari defended resolutely as Verona threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. However, Zanetti’s tactical adjustments, which left Sarr as the lone offensive option, failed to bear fruit. The defeat marked Verona’s sixth loss in their last seven matches, leaving them on 12 points and deepening the uncertainty surrounding Zanetti’s future at the helm.
For Cagliari, the victory was a vital boost. Nicola’s side now sit on 14 points, two clear of Verona, and will take confidence from a gritty performance that saw them grind out a much-needed win.
Pressure is mounting on Zanetti, whose side is in freefall, with the relegation zone looming ominously. For Cagliari, this result provides a platform to build upon as they look to move further away from danger. The contrasting emotions of the two managers were evident at full time, with Nicola breathing a sigh of relief while Zanetti faces an uncertain future.
