Napoli starting XI (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic, Beukema, Juan Jesus, Olivera (subbed for Lang), Mazzocchi (subbed for Buongiorno), Vergara (subbed for Neres), Elmas, Spinazzola, Politano, Lucca (subbed for Hojlund), Ambrosino (subbed for McTominay)
Bench: Contini, Ferrante, Rrahmani, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka
Goals: Lucca 28’
Cagliari starting XI (4-2-3-1): Caprile, Di Pardo, Luperto, Rodriguez (subbed for Idrissi), Obert, Deiola (subbed for Felici), Adopo, Luvumbo, Kilicsoy (subbed for Esposito), Gaetano (subbed for Prati), Pavoletti (subbed for Borrelli)
Bench: Ciocci, Radunovic, Pintus, Zappa, Rog, Cavuoti, Liteta, Grandu, Sulev, Trepy
Goals: Esposito 67’
Napoli took the lead in the 27th minute through Lorenzo Lucca, who met Antonio Vergara’s cross from the corner of penalty box at the back post.
Lorenzo Lucca! Napoli take the lead! ⚽#CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa #NapoliCagliari 1-0 pic.twitter.com/q7pr74YM34
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 3, 2025
In 67th minute, Sebastiano Esposito, who was put through on goal by a fortunate Napoli deflection, finished with composure to level the scores.
Esposito levels #NapoliCagliari! ⚖️#CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa pic.twitter.com/7ODezf4DVK
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 3, 2025
In an intense penalty shootout that saw misses from David Neres and Mattia Felici, Napoli and Cagliari were tied at 8-8 before Zito Luvumbo’s subsequent spot kick was denied by Vanja Milinković-Savić.
Alessandro Buongiorno stepped up and converted his penalty to send the Italian champions to quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia for the first time in five years.
Antonio Conte’s side will now face either the relegation-threatened Fiorentina or Como, who are challenging for Europe in the Serie A.