AS Roma squandered a crucial opportunity to keep pace at the summit of Italy's Serie A on Sunday, December 7, 2025, after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Cagliari.
Red Card Proves Costly for Giallorossi
The match's pivotal moment arrived in the second half when Roma defender Zeki Celik was shown a straight red card. The dismissal came after Celik brought down Cagliari's charging midfielder, Michael Folorunsho, who was clear through on goal. Forced to play with ten men for a significant portion of the match, Roma's resistance was finally broken late on.
Gaetano's Late Strike Seals Sardinian Success
The home side made their numerical advantage count in the 82nd minute. From a well-worked corner kick, Gianluca Gaetano produced a neat finish to beat the Roma goalkeeper, securing all three points for Cagliari and leaving the capital club empty-handed from their trip to Sardinia.
Title Race Ramifications
This result marks a second consecutive league defeat for manager Gian Piero Gasperini's side, who remain in fourth position. The loss leaves them three points behind leaders Inter Milan, who had powered to a 4-0 victory over Como on Saturday night. However, the gap to the top could widen further before the day ends due to a blockbuster fixture in Naples.
Later on Sunday, Napoli host fierce rivals Juventus at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. A win for Napoli would see them leapfrog Inter Milan and go one point clear at the summit. The match carries added narrative weight as Napoli, the reigning champions, face their former title-winning coach, Luciano Spalletti, who now manages Juventus. This is the first meeting in Naples since Spalletti masterminded Napoli's historic Scudetto triumph in 2023, ending a three-decade wait for the league title.
