Bologna and Cagliari Play Out Goalless Draw as Serie A Sees Third Consecutive 0-0

Key facts

• Bologna 0-0 Cagliari at Stadio Dall'Ara on May 3, 2026.
• Third consecutive Serie A match to end 0-0, after Como-Napoli and Atalanta-Genoa.
• Bologna have lost seven of nine home league matches in 2026.
• Cagliari are eight points above the relegation zone with three games left.
• Bologna are ninth with 49 points; Cagliari 16th with 37 points.
• Bologna have now gone four games without a win across all competitions.
• Cagliari have won two of their last three matches.

A Frustrating Afternoon at the Dall’Ara

Bologna and Cagliari played out a goalless draw at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Sunday afternoon, a result that did little to satisfy either side’s ambitions. The match was the third consecutive Serie A fixture to end 0-0, following similar stalemates between Como and Napoli and between Atalanta and Genoa on Saturday evening. For Bologna, the draw extended a worrying run of form: Vincenzo Italiano’s side have now gone four matches without a win across all competitions. Having been eliminated from the Europa League in the quarter-finals, their domestic campaign has faltered, with consecutive league defeats to Juventus and Roma preceding this result.

Chances Come and Go for Both Sides

The first shot on target came after 25 minutes, when Federico Bernardeschi cut in from the right flank and tried to bend a left-footed effort into the far corner, but Elia Caprile saved comfortably. Cagliari’s teenage goalkeeper Massimo Pessina was called into action in the 45th minute, denying Sebastiano Esposito at his near post with an improvised stop. After the break, Caprile had to get down low to keep out Nikola Moro’s dipping shot from the edge of the area. Substitute Santiago Castro struck the ball well from a tight angle in the 66th minute, but Caprile was well positioned at his near post. Cagliari’s best chance fell to Ze Pedro ten minutes from time: Michael Folorunsho sent a cross into a crowded penalty area, the ball fell kindly for the defender, but he blasted his first-time finish over the crossbar from six yards out.

Injury-Hit Lineups and Key Absences

Bologna were without goalkeeper Lukasz Skorpuski, Joao Mario, Nicolo Cambiaghi and Thijs Dallinga due to injury. Cagliari travelled without Riyad Idrissi, Luca Mazzitelli, Mattia Felici, Leonardo Pavoletti and Gennaro Borrelli. The visitors also saw Michel Adopo substituted late on for Gabriele Zappa. Both teams made changes during the match: Cagliari brought on Gabriele Zappa for Michel Adopo, while Bologna introduced Santiago Castro, who later received a yellow card for a bad foul. The match saw six minutes of added time but neither side could find a breakthrough.

Bologna’s Home Woes Continue

The draw extends a dismal home record for Bologna. They have now lost seven of nine league fixtures at the Dall’Ara in the 2026 calendar year, including a defeat to Roma the previous weekend. Another loss would have seen them lose ten home matches in a single Serie A campaign for only the second time in their history. Despite their struggles, Bologna remain unbeaten in 12 home games against Cagliari, having won the last four. However, their overall form has seen them slip to ninth place, six points behind seventh-placed Atalanta with just four rounds remaining. They now look set to miss out on European qualification.

Cagliari Edge Closer to Safety

For Cagliari, the point moves them eight points clear of the relegation zone with three games left to play. Fabio Pisacane’s side have won two of their last three matches, as many wins as they had managed in the previous ten. Their recent form includes a 3-2 victory over Atalanta on Monday, in which rookie striker Paul Mendy scored two quickfire goals and Gennaro Borrelli netted the winner. Despite the positive run, Cagliari are not yet mathematically safe. They sit 16th with 37 points, while the relegation places are occupied by the 18th, 19th and 20th-placed teams. The Sardinian club will need at least one more positive result to secure their Serie A status for another season.

What Lies Ahead for Both Teams

Bologna’s hopes of returning to European competition are fading fast. With four games left, they trail Atalanta by six points and have shown little consistency. Their next fixtures will be crucial if they are to salvage anything from a season that promised more after their Europa League run. Cagliari, meanwhile, have a cushion but cannot afford to relax. Their recent upturn in form has been driven by the emergence of young players like Paul Mendy and the steady goalkeeping of Elia Caprile. Fabio Pisacane, in his first season as senior head coach, will be keen to finish the job and ensure the club’s top-flight status before planning for next year.

A Season of Missed Opportunities

The goalless draw at the Dall’Ara encapsulated the frustrations of both teams. For Bologna, a season that began with European ambitions has petered out into mid-table mediocrity, undermined by poor home form and an inability to score. For Cagliari, the point was a step towards survival, but the manner of the performance – lacking a cutting edge despite creating chances – will give their coach pause. As Serie A enters its final weeks, both sides have clear objectives: Bologna must rediscover their attacking verve to avoid a complete collapse, while Cagliari need just a little more to confirm their place in the top flight. Sunday’s stalemate left neither satisfied, but the underlying narratives – of decline and of survival – remain sharply defined.

The bottom line

• Bologna have not won in four matches and have lost seven of nine home games in 2026.
• Cagliari are eight points clear of relegation with three matches remaining.
• The match was the third consecutive 0-0 draw in Serie A, highlighting a league-wide trend.
• Bologna’s European hopes are all but over as they sit six points behind seventh place.
• Cagliari’s recent form has improved, with two wins in their last three games.
• Key chances fell to Bernardeschi, Moro, Castro, and Ze Pedro, but none could convert.