Cagliari Host Lecce as Both Sides Seek Serie A Reset
Cagliari welcome Lecce to the Unipol Domus on 7 September, with the Matchday 3 meeting offering both clubs an early opportunity to reset after damaging recent results. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 PM as Fabio Pisacane’s side seek a response to league and cup defeats, while Eusebio Di Francesco’s Lecce attempt to move on from a heavy loss in Rome.
What changed for the club
Cagliari were edged out 1-0 by Inter in their previous Serie A fixture, Hakan Calhanoglu scoring early to settle the match. Their subsequent Coppa Italia tie also ended in defeat, with Hellas Verona leaving Sardinia with a 2-1 win.
The hosts have taken one win, one draw and three defeats from their past five matches in all competitions. Their opening-day league victory came at Parma, but they have scored only twice and conceded five times across that five-game sequence.
Pisacane has fitness doubts over Riyad Idrissi and Yael Trepy. The expected Cagliari selection is:
- Elia Caprile in goal.
- Ze Pedro, Alessandro Deiola, Juan Rodriguez and Adam Obert in defence.
- Alessandro Romano, Harry Winks, Michel Ndary Adopo and Jacopo Fazzini in midfield.
- Daniel Maldini and Paul Mendy in attack.
Lecce’s immediate concern is the 4-0 defeat at Roma in Matchday 2. Donyell Malen struck twice before Matias Soulé and substitute Rodrigo Mora added further goals. That performance followed a much more encouraging 2-0 opening-weekend success away to Venezia.
Di Francesco is without injured forward Willem Geubbels, while Lecce have no reported suspensions. Wladimiro Falcone is set to start in goal, behind Tiago Gabriel, Kialonda Gaspar, Danilo Veiga and Antonino Gallo. Oumar Ngom, Ivan Ilic and Lassana Coulibaly are expected in midfield, with Santiago Pierotti, Nikola Stulic and Joel Monteiro forming the forward line.
Competition context
Cagliari begin the round in 12th place and Lecce are one position below them in 13th, leaving little distance between the teams at this early stage of the 2026/27 Serie A campaign. A home victory would ease the pressure around Cagliari after consecutive defeats; Lecce can use the fixture to show that their result at Venezia better reflects their level than the Roma setback.
Lecce’s broader five-match record is two wins, a draw and two losses, with nine goals scored and eight conceded. Alongside the recent league results, they lost 2-0 to Palermo in the Coppa Italia earlier in the summer.
The last league meeting at the Unipol Domus went Lecce’s way, with the visitors winning 2-0 in February 2026. The past five Serie A contests between the clubs have been closely balanced: Cagliari have won twice, Lecce have won twice and one match has been drawn. Cagliari have scored six goals in those games, compared with Lecce’s five, for 11 in total.
What is scheduled next
Cagliari and Lecce meet at the Unipol Domus on Matchday 3 on 7 September, with the afternoon fixture beginning at 12:30 PM. Both managers are expected to assess the final condition of their squads closer to kick-off, particularly Cagliari’s Idrissi and Trepy.
The match is available live on Paramount+.
