Parma Vs Cagliari: Lineups Confirmed as Parma Aim for Fourth Straight Win
Parma Vs Cagliari kicks off with both clubs naming their starters for the match at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, a fixture that could reshape the mid-table picture. The game matters because Parma sit 12th on 32 points with an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone, while Cagliari occupy 13th and are three points behind — a win would draw them level on points.
Parma Vs Cagliari lineups at Stadio Ennio Tardini
Managers have submitted their official starting XIs ahead of kick-off. Parma will field Corvi in goal with Del Prato, Troilo, Valenti and Britscghi across the back; Bernabe, Keita and Ordonez in midfield; Valeri and Strefezza providing wide options, and top scorer Mateo Pellegrino leading the attack. Cagliari respond with Caprile in goal and a backline of Ze Pedro, Dossena, Rodriguez and Obert; Adopo, Liteta and Sulemana in midfield; Marco Palestra, Esposito and Semih Kiliçsoy up front.
Lineup announcements come after pre-match warmups and a series of in-game set-piece moments earlier in the week, including a free kick won by Marco Palestra and an offside call on Semih Kiliçsoy that left the visitors checking their movement. Officials confirmed the lists shortly before first whistle preparations.
Carlos Cuesta's tactics and Parma's three-game surge
Carlos Cuesta's pragmatic approach has been credited with a marked turnaround in Parma's results. The club has secured three successive league victories — over Bologna, Hellas Verona and a notable win at AC Milan — a run that pushed them to 12th place and eight points clear of the relegation zone. The Milan result featured a dramatic late goal by Mariano Troilo that was initially disallowed and then awarded after VAR intervention; that stoppage-time decision materially altered Parma's standing by extending their winning streak.
Cuesta's selections also reflect a willingness to trust deputies: with Alessandro Circati returning from suspension and long-term absentee Zion Suzuki back in training but only available for a bench role, Edoardo Corvi remains between the posts following standout performances in recent victories. The cause-and-effect is straightforward: Cuesta's tactical choices and personnel management have produced tangible results on the pitch, lifting Parma out of immediate danger and improving their points total to 32.
Cagliari form, goal drought and Fabio Pisacane's concerns
Cagliari arrive in Emilia-Romagna with mixed signals. Occupying 13th place and three points adrift of Parma, the Sardinians have failed to score in their last three matches and come off a 0-0 draw with Lazio that followed defeats to Roma and Lecce. That sequence has left head coach Fabio Pisacane publicly concerned about the side's lack of firepower and the timing of disciplinary issues: Yerry Mina received a red card for two bookable offences at the end of the stalemate in Sardinia, an incident that heightened scrutiny on Cagliari's recent performances and selection options.
The immediate effect of the drought is measurable: Cagliari have taken just 13 points from 39 available on the road this season, limiting their margin for error in fixtures that could elevate them back into safety contention. A victory at the Tardini would not only erase a three-point deficit but also stretch the club's recent winning sequence against Parma to four meetings since Parma's promotion, a pattern that has seen Cagliari win the prior three encounters — including a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture this season.
What makes this notable is the juxtaposition of momentum: Parma's confidence has been built on consecutive, high-profile results and decisive VAR rulings, while Cagliari's challenge is rooted in a scoring malaise and disciplinary setbacks that have constrained their attacking options. The pair now meet with nearly identical objectives — to secure Serie A status — but with contrasting short-term drivers determining how each coach will balance caution and ambition on the field.
Match details were current as of 27 February 2026 at 19: 45 UK time. Managers and players will move from announcement to action with the outcome certain to affect positions around the middle of the table and the immediate outlook for both clubs as the season progresses.
