Sampdoria vs Cagliari

There was no single decisive moment in a match that finished 0-0, but Sebastiano Esposito's 42nd-minute strike — tipped wide by Ghidotti — was the closest either side came to breaking the stalemate. Had it gone in, the narrative of Cagliari's first-half superiority would have been sealed.

• Lorenzo Paratici (Sampdoria): The 17-year-old forward, son of Fiorentina's general manager, was Sampdoria's most dangerous outlet. His movement and composure suggested he could see first-team minutes this season.

• Sebastiano Esposito (Cagliari): Playing against his brother Salvatore, Esposito created Cagliari's best chances. Two shots on target, one requiring a sharp save, showed his quality in the attacking midfield role.

• Jacopo Fazzini (Cagliari): Enterprising and energetic in his preferred mezzala role, the new signing looked sharp in midfield alongside Harry Winks (making his debut) and Matteo Romano.

• Nicola Ghidotti (Sampdoria): A composed first-half performance, highlighted by the save from Esposito's powerful strike. Kept a clean sheet in his 45-minute runout.

The 0-0 scoreline accurately reflects a match of few clear-cut chances. Cagliari, as the Serie A side, enjoyed more possession and territory but lacked the final ball to break through a well-drilled Sampdoria defence. Sampdoria's approach was deliberately conservative — Corradi used the fixture to test his team's defensive shape against a higher-tier opponent, and on that measure the exercise was a success. The absence of goals in a pre-season friendly is rarely a concern; what mattered was the competitive structure, and both sides got that.

For Sampdoria, this was a solid step-up from their 2-0 win over Taverne on 18 July. Corradi, who made his Serie A debut for Cagliari on 30 August 1999, will have taken encouragement from his side's defensive discipline. The Blucerchiati continue their pre-season programme with further friendlies in the coming weeks as they prepare for the Serie B campaign.

Cagliari, under Pisacane, showed flashes of promise in the final third without converting. New signings Harry Winks and Jacopo Fazzini got valuable minutes, and the 4-3-2-1 shape offered a different look for the season ahead. Cagliari's next pre-season fixture will provide further clarity on their evolving tactical approach.

A useful, low-key workout for both sides. Sampdoria's defensive organisation against a Serie A opponent was the key takeaway for Corradi, while Cagliari will want more sharpness in the final third as pre-season progresses. The Esposito brothers' subplot and Paratici's emergence added talking points, but the football was always secondary to the fitness work in Temù.