Serie A | Cagliari 1-1 Genoa – Cornet saves a point on the road | OneFootball

Cagliari and Genoa had to settle for a point at the end of the Friday night kick off in Serie A, as Maxwell Cornet cancelled out Nicolas Viola’s first-half opener.

Cagliari made three changes for tonight’s match, bringing in Florinel Coman for his full debut, as well as goalscorer Viola and Alessandro Deiola in place of Zito Luvumbo, Michel Adopo and Tommaso Augello.

Patrick Vieira decided to change half of his Genoa team, making five alterations to his outfielders after a 1-1 draw with Empoli last time out in Serie A.

Click here to read more about how the teams lined up.

Roberto Piccoli thought he had Cagliari 1-0 up with his first attempt of the game. The Isolani talisman had the ball in the back of the net after slotting past Nicola Leali one-on-one, but a  VAR review judged that he was offside by the smallest of margins in the build-up.

Piccoli was heavily involved in the actual opener 10 minutes later though.

The 24-year-old showed his strength to hold the ball up while waiting for his teammates to join in on the attack, before firing a difficult pass directly into the feet of Nicolas Viola on the edge of the area, who applied the finishing touches for 1-0.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – MARCH 07: Nicolas Viola of Cagliari celebrates his goal 1-0 during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Genoa at Sardegna Arena on March 07, 2025 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Coman, who scored on his debut against Parma in February, almost added the second goal of his Cagliari career, but struck the post with a smart free-kick, which he sent low, around the wall. The 26-year-old was then forced off after a collision shortly afterwards.

Genoa did not hang about at the beginning of the second half, netting the equaliser from the first passage of play after kick-off.

Fabio Miretti played the perfect ball into the half-space for Caleb Ekuban, who was able to square to Cornet in the middle of the area, who then passed the ball into the back of the net with his first touch.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – MARCH 07: Nicolas Viola of Cagliari scores his goal 1-0 during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Genoa at Sardegna Arena on March 07, 2025 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Aaron Martin provided an inch-perfect cross in for Koni De Winter just shy of the hour mark. The former Juventus youngster only had to put it on target, but placed his header downwards and just the wrong side of the Cagliari post.

Piccoli argued that he should have been awarded a penalty with 10 minutes left to go after his shot in the area appeared to strike Johan Vasquez on the arm, but there was not a lot that the Genoa defender could have done to get himself out of the way and a VAR check did not result in a spot kick being awarded.

Gianluca Gateano also tried to put Cagliari back in front in the final minutes, but was not able to steer his header on target. His effort ended up going over and out for a goal-kick.

Tonight’s result means that there has been no change to the Serie A standings: Cagliari remain in 15th place in the table, while Genoa sit six points above them in 12th. Genoa will be 12th at the end of the weekend regardless of results elsewhere, while Cagliari could be overtaken if either Lecce or Parma win.

Viola 19’ (C), Cornet (G) 47’.