| Catania lost their unbeaten home record to a side that had been without a single away victory all season. The Derby delle Isole saw two sides struggling for consistency face off at the Stadio Massimino. The Sardinians were celebrating last week's first victory under Coach Franco Colomba - ending an 11-match winless streak - but Antonio Chimenti and Mauro Esposito remain sidelined. Catania were missing Gianluca Falsini, Matteo Biso, Giuseppe Mascara and suspended duo Lorenzo Stovini and Fabio Caserta.
This was the first Serie A meeting between these clubs in Sicily since December 1970. The referee pointed to the spot after eight minutes for Minelli's challenge on David Suazo, although the contact appeared to be minimal. The Honduran stepped up to convert and give Cagliari the lead. Catania also had penalty appeals waved away when Marco Fortin clattered into Giuseppe Mascara. The goalkeeper was alert to fingertip away Mascara's header from a Davide Baiocco cross. From the resulting corner kick Fortin was again tested by Mascara's ability in the air. Catania defender Vargas went close with a powerful long-range left-foot strike. Fortin flew to fingertip Minelli's header round the near post as Catania fought back, and Agostini nearly deflected a corner kick into his own net. | 
