Cagliari falls to Torino as D'Aversa blames lack of grit | E. Caprile

Cagliari suffered a 1-2 defeat to Torino on May 17 2026, with Roberto D'Aversa pointing the finger at his squad's lack of grit. The match ended with Rafael Obrador scoring for the Granata at 36', followed by Torino goals from Sebastiano Esposito (38') and Yerry Mina (45'+2').

What happened on the pitch?

The game started at a high tempo: Cagliari pressed from the first minute, but Torino took the lead with Obrador at 36'. After the break, the Toro doubled the lead with Esposito, then Mina sealed the result in stoppage time. Despite Cagliari's pressure, the score stayed unchanged.

Why is D'Aversa so critical?

D'Aversa said in the press conference that the team showed “haste in evaluating some situations”, also mentioning Folorunsho's hand. He stressed that defensive mistakes and a lack of determination prevented a comeback to zero points. The coach also praised Caprile for his skill in the second half, but highlighted the need to grow in match management.

What are the implications for the future?

With the win, Torino moves closer to the Mole derby, the season's final fixture, while Cagliari must reflect on improving tactical handling. The red side will need to work on quicker decisions and greater aggression to avoid similar outcomes in upcoming games.

Cagliari's next challenge will be a clash against the team fighting for survival, but the priority is to reorganize the defense and give players more courage to avoid repeating the same story.