| Davide Ballardini made a positive start to his career at the Stadio Sant'Elia thanks to David Suazo's solo effort in a Derby delle Isole. This has been quite a season for Cagliari, as they debuted their third Coach in as many days. Attilio Tesser was fired, his predecessor Daniele Arrigoni brought back only to resign a week later and now Davide Ballardini received his Serie A bow for the Sardinians. Diego Lopez was suspended, while Messina were looking for their first win of the campaign.
Daniele Conti curled a free kick just wide of the upright and Mauro Esposito incredibly nodded inches over the bar from close range.
However, it was Messina who took the lead when a D'Agostino corner kick came out to Massimo Donati for a spectacular volley that went through the legs of a defender on the line.
Cagliari equalised on the stroke of half-time with a fine individual effort, as David Suazo slalomed past defenders to slide a precise finish past Marco Storari.
After the break Messina had a good chance to equalise, as D'Agostino's free kick was fired just over by Giuseppe Sculli. Soon after, Campagnolo was almost caught by surprise on Riccardo Zampagna's dipping volley from distance.
There was controversy at the 67th minute, as Cagliari felt they should have been awarded a goal. Suazo's cross reached Esposito and Marco Zanchi performed an acrobatic goalline clearance, but replays suggest the ball may well have crossed the line completely.
Messina lost their talismanic top scorer Zampagna, stretchered off with an ankle injury.
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