Match Preview: cagliari vs lecce — line-ups, stakes and broadcast details
Match overview
Cagliari host Lecce at the Unipol Domus on Monday 16 February 2026 with kick-off scheduled for 20: 45. The game is framed as a direct confrontation in the relegation battle: Lecce need points to improve their standing while Cagliari aim to consolidate a comfortable margin over the drop. The fixture will be shown on DAZN and on Sky channel 251, and will also be available the DAZN app, SkyGo and Now TV.
Official line-ups and formations
Two official formations circulated ahead of kick-off. Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane has opted for a 4-4-2 shape in the starting eleven listed by La Gazzetta dello Sport: Caprile in goal; a back four of Zappa, Mina, Pedro and Obert; a midfield of Palestra, Adopo, Sulemana and Idrissi; Pavoletti and Esposito leading the line. An alternative version released later shows Rodriguez replacing Pedro and the front pairing listed as Kilicsoy alongside Esposito, maintaining the 4-4-2 framework.
Lecce, managed by Eusebio Di Francesco, are set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Falcone in goal; Danilo Veiga, Gaspar, Thiago Gabriel and Gallo across the back; Coulibaly and Ramadani holding in midfield; Pierotti, Gandelmann and Sottil in the attacking midfield roles; and Cheddira as the lone forward. The formation is consistent across the sources made available to the press.
Team news and availability
Local reports list a number of absentees for Cagliari, with LecceOggi naming Felici, Belotti, Folorunsho, Daiola and Borrelli as unavailable. Kalaritana Media highlights two significant absences for Pisacane’s side in the build-up: Gaetano and Zè Pedro, both previously regular starters in the club’s recent run of results. Their unavailability has prompted Pisacane to consider rotation and younger options, with Sulemana and Zappa noted as possible starters and Liteta mentioned as a surprise alternative.
Pisacane has indicated that the situation could also lead to a tweak in midfield roles, with Luca Mazzitelli suggested as a deeper-lying option to add balance in front of the defence. The coach described the match as "a direct clash, but not a match point", stressing the importance of collective effort and the opportunity presented to less-used players.
Tactical considerations and stakes
The meeting is a pivotal one for Lecce, who are under pressure to pick up points that would allow them to climb out of the danger zone; a positive result could move them ahead of Fiorentina for the third-from-bottom spot depending on other results. Cagliari sit seven points clear of Lecce and approach the game with relative breathing room, though Pisacane has framed the fixture as crucial to maintaining momentum and continuity in results.
Di Francesco’s side will likely aim to control possession and exploit transitions, with Cheddira expected to lead the line and the attacking three tasked with creating verticality and pace. Cagliari’s selection questions centre on how to replace the influence of Gaetano and Zè Pedro, and whether Pisacane will maintain his preferred structure or make tactical shifts to compensate for the absences.
Officials and broadcast
The referee appointed for the match is Ermanno Feliciani of the Teramo section, assisted by Lo Cicero and Mokhtar. The fourth official is Bonacina, with Campione and Guida named as VAR and AVAR respectively. Fans can follow the match live on DAZN and Sky (channel 251), with streaming options available through the DAZN app, SkyGo and Now TV.
With line-ups confirmed and tactical plans declared, attention now turns to the pitch where both teams will contest three crucial points in a fixture that could influence the complexion of the relegation battle as the season progresses.
