Maldini scores again as Cagliari draw with Juventus and both coaches see red

Daniel Maldini marked his 25th birthday with a goal as Cagliari drew 1-1 with Juventus on Sunday, before both managers were sent off after the final whistle. According to the Guardian's match coverage, Randal Kolo Muani cancelled out Maldini's opener, while goalkeeper Elia Caprile made a series of saves to help the hosts retain a point.

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Maldini put Cagliari ahead a little over 15 minutes into the game. Moving in from the left, he had an initial effort blocked before the ball reached Paul Mendy. The teenager held off a defender and returned it to Maldini, who finished from close range. It was the forward's fourth consecutive Serie A game with a goal, continuing a scoring run that has accompanied Cagliari's strong start.

Juventus applied greater pressure after the interval. Caprile had already denied Edon Zhegrova before Kolo Muani met Kerim Alajbegovic's cross to equalise. The visitors then struck the crossbar, with Caprile collecting Nick Woltemade's attempt from the rebound. He also stopped a close-range volley from Kolo Muani, although the striker was offside on that occasion. Cagliari manager Fabio Pisacane subsequently acknowledged that Juventus deserved at least a draw.

The game was followed by a confrontation between Pisacane and Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, with both receiving red cards. The Guardian reported that the exchange began with a handshake before an argument developed. Spalletti later said he had been praising Pisacane for his players' ability to run down time. The report did not establish a clear explanation for the confrontation, and Pisacane appeared puzzled by what had happened.

The point left Cagliari fourth with 13 points from six league matches, two points ahead of sixth-placed Juventus. Inter and Lazio led the standings on 16, with Roma third on 14. Cagliari had opened the campaign with four victories in five games, their best top-flight start in more than half a century, according to the Guardian.

The draw also extended Cagliari's recent record to six wins and one draw in eight league matches across this season and last. Only Roma collected more points over that span. Pisacane took charge of the first team in 2025 after working as an assistant and in the academy; his side have now added a point against Juventus to their early-season results.