Key Takeaways:
- Roma achieved a 2-0 home win against Cagliari, ending their three-match winless run in all competitions
- Donyell Malen scored both goals for Roma, opening his account at Stadio Olimpico
- Cagliari, previously on a three-game winning streak, slipped to 12th in the Serie A standings
Match Overview and Context
Roma returned to winning ways on Saturday, defeating Cagliari 2-0 at Stadio Olimpico. This result saw the Giallorossi draw level on points with Juventus, though they remained in fifth place in the Serie A table after this round of fixtures.
Donyell Malen proved instrumental, netting his first goals on home turf and demonstrating his potential as a reliable attacking outlet for Roma. The Dutch forward opened the scoring in the 25th minute and added his second midway through the second half to seal the result.
⏱ | It's all over! Malen's double wins it for us 💥
FORZA ROMA 🐺#ASRoma #RomaCagliari pic.twitter.com/1W6F5r5UqC
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) February 9, 2026
Line-Ups, Injuries, and Debuts
Roma entered this contest missing several key players due to injury, including Paulo Dybala, Robinio Vaz, and Mario Hermoso. Despite the absences, Malen led the line, supported by Matias Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini just behind. Bryan Zaragoza, a recent acquisition from Bayern Munich, appeared for the first time after the interval.
Cagliari also coped with enforced changes, as manager Fabio Pisacane was without Jhon Éder Mina and Andrea Belotti. Their attacking duties fell to Sebastiano Esposito and Turkish youngster Semih Kiliçsoy, but they found little joy against Roma’s resolute defence.
Match Analysis and Key Moments
Roma dominated proceedings from the outset and could have enjoyed a greater winning margin. Early on, Juan Rodriguez intervened to deny Malen an opener, and soon after, visiting goalkeeper Elia Caprile narrowly avoided an own goal as he rushed to keep the ball from crossing the line.
Matias Soulé and Nicolo Pisilli were also unable to convert opportunities in the first period. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute: Gianluca Mancini delivered a clever pass which Malen controlled before expertly chipping Caprile from a tight angle.
“The Wolves” maintained their superiority through the remainder of the half, with Cagliari offering little threat to Mile Svilar’s goal. After the restart, new signing Zaragoza added fresh impetus to Roma’s attack.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 65th minute. Mehmet Zeki Çelik surged down the right flank and delivered a cross for Malen, who dispatched a close-range finish for his and Roma’s second of the night.
Statistical Summary
| Team | Score | Scorers | Points | Position After Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roma | 2 | Donyell Malen (25’, 65’) | 46 | 5th |
| Cagliari | 0 | – | 28 | 12th |
Late Opportunities and Final Whistle
In the final moments, Cagliari produced their best chance of the night when Ibrahim Sulemana’s effort struck the post. Despite this late scare, Roma maintained a clean sheet, closing out a convincing display on home soil.
