Udinese-Cagliari 1-1: LIVE live commentary

Where the match is played:

Stadio: Bluenergy Stadium
City: Udine
Capacity: 25144 spectators 2.18pm

Fonte: Gettyimages

Welcome to the live coverage of the match between Udinese and Cagliari, a match valid for the 25th matchday of Serie A. 2.18pm

At the “Bluenergy Stadium” in Udine, Cioffi’s Udinese and Ranieri’s Cagliari are preparing to face each other in a very important match for the safety zone. 2.19pm

Udinese comes into today’s match after the feat at the Allianz Stadium in Turin against Juventus, with a victory (1-0 goal by Giannetti) which can turn the Friulians’ season around. Currently, Cioffi’s team is just two points away from the relegation zone, with Verona having gained an important point yesterday; with a victory today, however, the Bianconeri would send an important signal to their pursuers. 2.19pm

Cagliari is going through a really complicated period: the last four matches ended in defeat for the Sardinians. During the week, Mr. Ranieri reunited the team by communicating his intention to resign from the role, but the Cagliari players, loudly, convinced the Roman coach to stay. It will therefore be essential today to give important signals, to resume the route towards final salvation.2.19pm

In the first leg match, played last September, the two teams shared the stakes with a 0-0 draw. Today, both teams will probably have to risk something more, creating offensive actions, but also giving something to their opponents. 2.19pm

OFFICIAL LINEUPS: Udinese takes the field with a 3-5-2: Okoye – Perez, Giannetti Kristensen – Ehizibue, Samardzic, Walace, Lovric, Zemura – Thauvin, Lucca.2.19pm

Cioffi proposes the same 11 that played against Juventus: Okoye in goal, with Perez, Giannetti and Kristensen forming the defense trio. Walace will be in midfield, with Samardzic and Lovric in the midfield roles. On the flanks he is again up to Ehizibue and Zemura, while in front Lucca will be supported by Thauvin.14:20

OFFICIAL LINEUPS: Cagliari has a 4-3-1-2: Scuffet – Zappa, Mina, Dossena, Augello – Makoumbou, Deiola, Jankto – Gaetano – Luvumbo, Lapadula.2.20pm

Ranieri tries a more offensive solution compared to recent outings, fielding Gaetano from the first minute behind Luvumbo and Lapadula. In midfield there will be a three-man line, made up of Makoumbou, Deiola and Jankto. In front of Scuffet there will be Zappa, Mina, Dossena and Augello. 2.20pm

Referee Maurizio Mariani, from the Aprilia section, will direct the match. The assistants will be Zingarelli and Fontemurato. Doveri will be in the VAR room, supported by Sozza in the role of AVAR. The fourth official will be Ghersini.2.20pm

The challenge begins. First possession for Cagliari.3.02pm

Walace tries to break Cagliari’s pressing lines by raising the ball towards Thauvin, but the French attacker does not reach the ball and Ranieri’s team regains possession of the ball.15:04

From these early stages of the game, we can see how Ranieri’s team defends with a 4-4-2, with Luvumbo spreading out on the right and with Gaetano advancing alongside Lapadula.15:07

Lateral free kick from Udinese, with Lovric putting it in the middle and the Cagliari defense sweeping out: on the second ball Samardzic arrives and raises it for Thauvin, but the Juventus striker is offside. We start again with a free kick for Cagliari.3.08pm

First shot on goal of the match with Ehizibue who starts from the right, focuses towards the edge of the area and finishes with the left foot: blocks Scuffet centrally.15:09

Udinese continues to manage the ball, with Cagliari waiting closed in their own half of the pitch.3.12pm

Ehizibue tries to worry the rossoblù rearguard by entering the area from the right but, after having missed two men, he is blocked in a throw-in.3.15pm

Cold shower for Ranieri’s team, who will now have to increase intensity and quality of play to recover from an uphill match.3.19pm

Makoumbou’s heel frees Jankto on the left, who crosses tensely to the center in search of Lapadula who had moved well: Okoye arrives on the trajectory first, who makes it his own.3.20pm

1st yellow card Udinese: yellow card for Lorenzo Lucca.15:22

The Udinese striker claims a foul not called by Mariani and visibly protests against the referee, receiving the first yellow card of the match.3.24pm

Halfway through the first half, with Udinese continuing to crush Cagliari inside their own half.15:27

Long offensive action by the Friulians inside the opponent’s area, with various conclusions always against the body of the rossoblù defenders. Ranieri’s team struggles to get out.3.28pm

Long change of play by Thauvin in the direction of Zemura, who passes centrally for Samardzic: Udinese’s number 24 doesn’t think twice and shoots first-time with his left foot, but the shot is blocked by Mina.15:32

Lucca just a whisker away from doubling their lead! Great play by Thauvin on the right, with the Frenchman crossing with his weak foot towards the center where Lucca, who had freed himself from Mina, headed all alone, sending the ball wide of the right post.3.33pm

1st yellow card Cagliari: yellow card for Alberto Dossena.3.35pm

Good phrasing from Udinese on the right with Ehizibue who gets in with the ball and, at the edge of the area, is stopped irregularly by Dossena, who is booked by Mariani.15:39

Samardzic takes care of the free kick, trying to place it towards the post defended by Scuffet, but it hits Lapadula, positioned in the barrier, squarely.15:37

Cross shot from the right by Ehizibue, with the ball crossing the entire penalty area, missing Lucca and Lovric who had entered.3.39pm

Cross from the right by Makoumbou with Okoye coming out ahead of Lapadula and making it his own.3.40pm

2nd yellow card Cagliari: yellow card for Tommaso Augello.3.40pm

The Cagliari left-back reaches for the ball and intervenes late against Ehizibue, in an attempt to win it back: second yellow card in the rossoblù rearguard.3.41pm

Samardzic suddenly! Udinese’s number 24 stops a ball in the three-quarter area, then makes a surprise powerful strike towards the goal: the ball travels quickly but ends up over the crossbar. There was a slight deviation, which was not reported by the referee. 3.42pm

Poisonous left from Lapadula! Free kick for Cagliari from the right midfield, with Lapadula hitting it forcefully, sending it towards the bottom right corner; Okoye reaches out and pins her to the ground.3.45pm

1 minute of injury time reported.3.48pm

Jankto remains on the ground due to a blow to the head. Referee Mariani stops the game.3.48pm

Jankto gets up and the game resumes.3.49pm

The first half ends. Udinese-Cagliari 1-1.15.49

First half with the teams at rest with the result 1-1: the match broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, with a cross from “fifth to fifth”; Ehizibue advances on the right, crosses to the center, sending the ball to Zemura. The Udinese left-footed winger comes back on the right and finishes towards the goal, putting the ball under the right-hander. In the 31st minute Lucca has a great opportunity to double the lead, but he misses his header and puts it just wide. In the 44th minute Cagliari’s equalizer came as a surprise, with Gaetano starting the action by serving Augello on the left wing, who crossed it towards the center where the rossoblù attacking midfielder took a header and put it into the net towards the bottom right corner. 3.53pm

Udinese, who managed the ball better for long stretches of the first half and created more scoring opportunities, were caught again at the end of the first half by a flash from Cagliari. This goal could change the course of the match which, up until now, seemed totally in favor of the home team.3.54pm

Let’s start once again. Possession for Udinese.16:05

Attempt to play with a tunnel by Gaetano near the left back line, but the attacking midfielder is tackled and the ball caroms towards him: there will be a goal kick for Okoye.16:06

Lapadula crosses! Luvumbo advances on the left then crosses to the center where Gaetano breaks the ball; the ball becomes perfect for Lapadula who volleys with his right foot from the penalty spot, hitting the crossbar squarely.16:09

Zemura tries to enter the penalty area, bypassing Mina, but the former Fiorentina defender puts his body in front and is overwhelmed by the Udinese winger.16:13

2nd yellow card Udinese: yellow card for Lautaro Giannetti.16:14

Giannetti’s shoulder on Luvumbo’s face with the ball on the opposite side of the pitch: Mariani interrupts the play and, on the assistant’s advice, warns the Udinese defender.16:15

Bad management of the ball by Udinese who puts it out during the build-up phase, granting a throw-in to Cagliari at an advanced stage.16:18

Lucca on the fly! Very fast counterattack by Udinese with Thauvin who, having arrived in the three-quarter area, raises a volley towards the left side of the area where Lucca volleys with his right foot: the ball goes just wide of the left post.16:19

Try Thauvin! Cross from the left by Zemura, header by Mina; However, the Cagliari defender raises it towards Thauvin who, all alone inside the area, hits a volley with his left foot, sending the ball out of the right post.16:21

The first substitutions are ready for Udinese. 16:24

1st substitution Udinese: Kingsley Ehizibue comes out, João Ferreira comes in. 4.25pm

2nd substitution Udinese: Jordan Zemura comes out, Festy Ebosele comes in. 4.25pm

Mina remains on the ground inside the opponent’s area due to an alleged contact with Lucca. Referee Mariani invites the Cagliari defender to get up.16:27

Stalemate phase of the match, with Udinese having lost a bit of quality in their dribbling in recent minutes.16:31

Samardzic with the right! The Udinese midfielder finds the ball on his right at the edge of the area and doesn’t think twice, looking for the right corner: high ball.16:35

Udinese corner kick from the left, with Lovric putting it in the center where a bit of confusion is created: the ball is cleared to the edge where Thauvin tries to finish with first intention but the ball is rebounded and ends up at the feet of Lucca offside.16:36

3rd yellow card Udinese: yellow card for João Ferreira.16:37

The Udinese winger is forced into a tactical foul against Lapadula, with Cagliari starting on the counterattack.16:37

Substitution Gianluca Lapadula Vargas Leonardo Pavoletti16:37

Jakub Jankto Substitution Michel Nandez Acosta16:3

Substitution Gabriele Zappa Alessandro Di Pardo16:37