Key Takeaways:
- Cagliari secured a 3-2 victory against Atalanta at Unipol Domus, marking their second consecutive Serie A home win in two seasons
- Paul Mendy scored twice within the opening eight minutes on his first Serie A start before being substituted at half-time due to injury
- Cagliari’s win increased their lead over the relegation zone to eight points with just four matches remaining in the campaign
Rapid-Fire Start Sets the Tone
Cagliari made an electrifying start at Unipol Domus, taking the lead after only 15 seconds as Michel Adopo delivered a cross into the area for Paul Mendy, who headed home on his first Serie A start. The excitement continued just minutes later as the 19-year-old doubled Cagliari’s advantage, capitalising on a defensive lapse from Atalanta following a corner. Alessandro Deiola’s effort was stopped by Marco Carnesecchi, but Mendy was on hand to finish the rebound, with the ball ricocheting off Berat Djimsiti and into the net.
UN CUORE MATTO, MATTO DA LEGARE, OH CASTEDDU, IO AMO SOLO TEEEEEEE
ABBIAMO VINTO NOIIII
❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/gRJtvpJE1q— Cagliari Calcio (@CagliariCalcio) April 27, 2026
Atalanta’s Response Before the Break
Despite a subdued performance in the opening stages, Atalanta clawed their way back into contention shortly before half-time. Gianluca Scamacca halved the deficit with a precise right-footed strike from inside the box, finding the far corner. Moments later, Scamacca levelled the scoring, converting Giorgio Scalvini’s low cross from close range to stun the home crowd just before the interval.
Borrelli Restores Cagliari’s Edge
An injury saw Mendy withdrawn at the break, dashing hopes of a hat-trick on his top-flight debut. Nonetheless, Cagliari regained their lead less than two minutes into the second half as Gennaro Borrelli, Mendy’s replacement, was quickest to a loose ball after Michael Folorunsho’s effort was blocked, slotting home Cagliari’s third.
Cagliari Hold Firm in Second Half
The hosts, who had won just one of their previous ten league matches (D2, L7), exhibited newfound confidence to repel Atalanta’s attempts at a comeback. La Dea’s most significant opportunity in the closing stages saw Nikola Krstović’s shot from inside the area denied by Elia Caprile with eight minutes left on the clock.
This victory not only sees Cagliari establish an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone with four fixtures yet to play, but also complicates Atalanta’s pursuit of European football. The Bergamo side remain seventh in the table, trailing the sixth-placed team – and the final continental qualification spot – by seven points.
Match Statistics
Below are the key match statistics from Cagliari’s high-scoring encounter with Atalanta:
| Team | Goals | Possession (%) | Shots (on target) | Corners | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cagliari | 3 | 26% | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Atalanta | 2 | 74% | 6 | 6 | 1 |
