Roma starting XI (3-4-3): Svilar, Mancini, Ndicka, Ghilardi, Celik, Pisilli, Cristante (subbed for El Aynaoui), Wesley, Soulè (subbed for Venturino), Malen (subbed for Arena), Pellegrini (subbed for Zaragoza)

Bench: Zelezny, Gollini, Rensch, Angelino, Tsimikas, Ziolkowski

Goals: Malen 25’ 65’

Cagliari starting XI (4-3-3): Caprile, Ze Pedro (subbed for Zappa), Dossena, Rodriguez, Obert, Adopo, Gaetano (subbed for Trepy), Mazzitelli (subbed for Sulemana), Palestra, Kilicsoy (subbed for Pavoletti), Esposito (subbed for Idrissi)

Bench: Sherri, Ciocci, Raterink, Albarracin, Liteta, Mendy

The Giallorossi were rewarded for greater attacking intent and clinical finishing, with Donyell Malen the standout performer as he scored both goals on a night when Roma showed greater fluidity and purpose in the final third compared with recent weeks.

Roma controlled large spells of the first half, mixing patient build-up play with incisive forward transitions.

Their dominance paid off in the 25th minute when Malen cleverly lobbed Cagliari keeper Elia Caprile after being played through by Gianluca Mancini’s defence-splitting pass.

The home side looked more dangerous with the lead, but Cagliari defended resolutely and tested Roma’s concentration with a few counterattacks.

Roma put the result beyond doubt in the 65th minute when a well-worked move down the right saw Mehmet Zeki Çelik thread a precise assist into the path of Malen, who tucked away his second of the night with a composed finish low into the net.

That goal gave the hosts breathing room and allowed Gasperini’s side to manage the game with confidence.

Cagliari briefly threatened to reduce the deficit late on when substitute Ibrahim Sulemana struck the crossbar, but Roma’s defence remained organised and denied any further clear opportunities.

The final whistle saw the Giallorossi move level on points with Juventus on the Serie A table and keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive.