Lecce 1-2 Cagliari Player Ratings: Andrea Belotti 9/10 Rated as Cagliari Secures Comeback Win

The Lecce vs Cagliari clash in the Serie A was a genuine rollercoaster of emotions, a real spectacle for the neutral. For a moment, we honestly thought they had it in the bag. Tiago Gabriel's powerful header in the 5th minute sent the home crowd at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare into a complete frenzy. For a solid 20 minutes, it seemed Cagliari were on the back foot, really struggling to find any sort of rhythm or meaningful possession. But football, as it so often does, proved to be a fantastically unpredictable sport.

The comeback slowly began to build, spearheaded by the ever-reliable and tenacious Andrea Belotti. His equalizer just after the half-hour mark was a crucial blow and a clear sign of things to come. The second half was a much more cagey and tense affair, but Belotti once again proved to be the difference-maker, drawing a foul in the box and then coolly converting the subsequent penalty to snatch all three points. It was a gritty, determined performance from the visitors, a true comeback story. Here are the Lecce vs Cagliari player ratings.

Cagliari Player Ratings vs Lecce

Here are the Cagliari player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Elia Caprile - 7.0: A solid outing for the keeper. He couldn't do much about the early goal conceded. Made 4 crucial saves, including 3 from inside the box, which kept his team in the game when Lecce were pushing. His distribution was a bit hit-or-miss with only 48% pass accuracy, but his 2 punches and high claims showed confidence.

Defenders

Sebastiano Luperto - 6.5: A quiet but effective game from Luperto. He was very tidy in possession, boasting a 95% pass accuracy. The Italian defender did his job without much fuss. Won 3 of his 5 duels and made a couple of important clearances. He wasn't spectacular, but he provided a steady presence at the back, which was needed after the early goal.

Yerry Mina - 6.0: A mixed performance from the big Colombian. He was a physical presence, winning 5 duels, but also lost 5, showing some inconsistency. His 87% pass accuracy was decent, and he made 4 clearances and 2 interceptions. However, losing possession 8 times is a bit high for a center-back.

Adam Obert - 6.5: A busy evening for the young defender. He won an impressive 6 out of 9 duels and made 3 successful tackles. Obert was aggressive and tried to get on the front foot. The yellow card was a blemish, and he did get dribbled past, but his proactive defending helped break up Lecce's attacks.

Midfielders

Marco Palestra - 7.5: What stood out to us was his attacking contribution. He provided the assist for Belotti's first goal and created another big chance. His passing was almost perfect at 94% accuracy. He was a constant threat down the flank with his dribbling and crossing. A very impressive and dynamic performance from the midfielder.

Michel Adopo - 5.5: A difficult day at the office for Adopo. He struggled to impose himself on the game, winning only 2 of his 10 duels. Losing possession 12 times also hurt his team's rhythm. While he did recover the ball 7 times, he was largely bypassed in midfield and was substituted after 73 minutes. Not his best game.

Alessandro Deiola - 7.0: The captain led by example with a combative display. He won 7 of his 11 duels and made 4 tackles, showing great fight in the middle of the park. He was also composed on the ball, with a 94% pass accuracy. He provided the steel that Cagliari needed to turn the game around. A true captain's performance before his late injury.

Matteo Prati - 6.5: He was a creative force, creating 3 chances and one big chance. His 5 accurate crosses show his intent to get the ball into dangerous areas. However, he also lost possession 8 times and picked up a yellow card for a clumsy foul. A bit of a mixed bag, but his creative spark was important. Substituted after an hour.

Michael Folorunsho - 5.0: A very poor performance. What stood out to us was his high number of possession losses (17) and an error that led directly to a shot. He won only 3 of his 10 duels. Despite playing 90 minutes, he failed to make a positive impact and often seemed off the pace of the game. A day he'll want to forget.

Forwards

Andrea Belotti - 9.0: Man of the match, without a doubt. An absolutely clinical performance from the veteran striker. It wasn't just his two goals, but his entire work rate. He won the penalty himself through sheer persistence, a moment that defined the match. With 2 shots on target and both finding the net, his efficiency was off the charts. He was the highest-rated player and deservedly so.

Sebastiano Esposito - 7.0: The unluckiest player on the pitch. He hit the woodwork twice, which is just incredible. Despite the frustration, he never stopped trying, creating two chances and looking like a real threat before he was subbed off. His four fouls show his combative spirit. On another day, he could have had a brace himself.

Substitutes

Gianluca Gaetano - 6.0: Came on for Esposito and provided fresh legs but didn't have a standout moment.

Mattia Felici - 6.0: Replaced Prati and helped solidify the midfield as Cagliari pushed for the win.

Semih Kiliçsoy - 6.0: Had little time to make an impact after replacing the hero Belotti.

Gabriele Zappa - 6.0: Brought on to add defensive stability in the final stages.

Luca Mazzitelli - N/A: Came on for the injured Deiola with only a few minutes to play.

Manager

F. Pisacane - 7.5: Credit where it's due. His team went down early away from home but didn't panic. The decision to keep faith in his system paid off. His substitutions were logical and helped manage the game effectively after taking the lead. He masterminded a fantastic comeback win.

Lecce Player Ratings vs Cagliari

Here are the Lecce player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Wladimiro Falcone - 6.5: He made 4 saves, including 3 from close range, to keep his team in it for long periods. He couldn't be faulted for either of Belotti's goals, one of which was a penalty. His distribution was solid, and he showed good command of his area. A decent performance despite the loss.

Defenders

Kialonda Gaspar - 7.0: A really strong defensive performance. Gaspar was a rock at the back, winning an incredible 9 out of 11 duels. His 7 clearances were vital. It's a shame his individual excellence didn't contribute to a better result. He was one of Lecce's best players on the day.

Christ-Owen Kouassi - 6.0: A fairly standard performance. He was neat on the ball with 82% pass accuracy but didn't stand out defensively. Won most of his duels but wasn't tested as much as his defensive partners. A steady, if unspectacular, showing.

Antonino Gallo - 5.5: He struggled to make an impact and was substituted at halftime. He lost 3 of his 5 duels and was dribbled past 3 times, which is concerning for a defender. He offered little going forward. The substitution felt justified based on his first-half display.

Tiago Gabriel - 5.0: A day of incredible highs and devastating lows for the defender. He started like a hero, scoring a fantastic header to give Lecce the lead. But then, the script flipped. The penalty he conceded for a foul on Belotti was clumsy and ultimately cost his team the game. A harsh lesson in how quickly a game can change.

Midfielders

Álex Sala - 5.5: Another player hooked at halftime. He was ineffective in the midfield battle, winning just 2 of his 5 duels. He didn't offer much creativity or defensive security and looked a bit lost. It was no surprise to see him replaced.

Ylber Ramadani - 6.5: A tireless worker in the engine room. He had a 92% pass accuracy and was tidy in possession. He made 3 ball recoveries and 3 clearances. However, he lost the ball 6 times and couldn't quite stamp his authority on the game as Cagliari fought back.

Lassana Coulibaly - 5.5: A frustrating performance. He was booked for a poor challenge and lost possession 13 times, which is far too high. While he showed some flashes of power, winning 4 duels, his overall contribution was negative. He seemed to struggle with the pace and intensity of Cagliari's midfield.

Forwards

Nikola Stulic - 6.0: He worked hard up top and was a physical handful, winning 6 duels. However, his end product was lacking. He only managed one shot which was off target. He held the ball up reasonably well but needed to be more of a goal threat.

Riccardo Sottil - 7.0: Lecce's most dangerous attacker while he was on the pitch. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal and created another big chance. He drew 4 fouls, causing problems for the Cagliari defence. It was a surprise to see him substituted after only 61 minutes.

Santiago Pierotti - 5.5: He battled hard but lacked quality. Winning just 6 of his 15 duels tells the story of his difficult evening. He was dispossessed 3 times and his one shot was on target but easily saved. He just couldn't find a way to make a real impact on the game.

Substitutes

Corrie Ndaba - 6.0: Came on at halftime and was an upgrade on Gallo, looking more solid defensively.

Mohamed Kaba - 6.0: Replaced Sala and brought more energy to the midfield but couldn't change the game's momentum.

Tete Morente - 5.5: Replaced the dangerous Sottil but failed to replicate his impact.

Francesco Camarda - 6.0: A late cameo, didn't have much time to influence the result.

Konan N'Dri - N/A: Introduced with less than 10 minutes to go.

Manager

E. Di Francesco - 6.0: His team started brilliantly and the initial game plan worked perfectly. However, they couldn't respond once Cagliari equalized. From our perspective, his decision to substitute his most creative player, Sottil, was a strange one that seemed to hand the momentum to the visitors. A tough loss to swallow.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Andrea Belotti