Roma hosted Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico tonight looking for maximum points to restore their advantage at the top of Serie A.
Rudi Garcia's dominated for long spells but were largely frustrated by a spirited Cagliari side, who went close to opening the scoring through Victor Ibarbo.
Gervinho headed Roma's best chance on to the crossbar late in the the first half, as the Giallorossi were forced to settle for a third successive draw.
Look back on a damaging result in Roma's bid to keep pace in the Scudetto race with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Evening Calcio fans. Round 13 from Serie A ends in the Eternal City tonight with a pivotal clash between clubs at either end of the table, as Cagliari bid to maintain their fine recent record against Roma, who need three points to stay in charge of the Scudetto race.
Roma have been tested for the first time in recent weeks after confounding critics to start the campaign with 10 successive wins, dropping points with draws against Torino and Sassuolo. The challenge now for Rudi Garcia's men is to recapture the scintillating form on show as early as last month, proving that they are in the Serie A title race for the long haul.
Injury problems have tested the Giallorossi's strength in depth ans results have slipped just slightly as a result, with the absence of captain and talisman Francesco Totti keenly felt. Gervinho has also spent more than a month on the sidelines but should return this evening, fighting for a starting spot in attack with Marco Borriello and Adem Ljajic.
Cagliari on the other hand have struggled to match their promising play with firepower in a stuttering start to the season. The likes of Marco Sau, Mauricio Pinilla and Victor Ibarbo have flattered to deceive in attack, leaving the Sicilians starting at a potential relegation battle.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have the starting lineups from the Stadio Olimpico and there is a return for Gervinho, who looks likely to play through the middle with Marco Borriello surprisingly dropped. A full look at both teams will follow in just a few moments.
ROMA: De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Dodò; Pjanic, De Rossi, Strootman; Florenzi, Ljajic, Gervinho
CAGLIARI: Avramov, Pisano, Rossettini, Astori, Murru; Dessena, Conti, Eriksson; Cossu; Sau, Ibarbo
Gervinho returns for Roma to form a trident attack with Florenzi, Ljajic, with room to switch positions for all three. Mehdi Benatia and Leandro Castan are back together in central defence after both players missed a match each through suspension, while Dodo is preferred to Federico Balzaretti at full-back.
Caglari meanwhile are without a key midfield linchpin tonight, with Radja Nainggolan out through suspension. His omission means veteran Andrea Cossu starts to provide experience in a central area, with Ibarbo and Sau preferred to Pinilla in attack.
PREDICTION! With kickoff imminent there is just time for to confidently claim that Roma will return to winning ways tonight, but not without a struggle. I expect Cagliari to stay compact and provide a threat on the counter with Ibarbo's pace, but eventually be undone by a wave of Giallorossi pressure.
A reminder that as the two teams emerge Roma are wearing black armbands in memory of Amedeo Amadei, who passed away earlier this week. Cagliari are also marking the tragic loss of 17 lives in Sardinian flash foods, so plenty of emotion on both sides ahead of kickoff.
We are underway at the Olimpico, with Caglari kickoff in a changed white strip with blue shorts and quickly gifting possession to the hosts.
Plenty of early needle between the two teams as Maicon is caught on the calf by a poor challenge by Conti. The Brazilian takes some time to return and Garcia is livid on the touchline, but after getting medical attention looks set to continue for now.
SHOT! Gervinho has come within inches of breaking the deadlock after wriggling his way through two challenges to find space in the penalty area. His low shot towards the near post aims to catch Avramov by surprise, but his effort is parried. Roma then recycle and drive down the opposite flank through Maicon, who fires wide from a tight angle.
Cagliari threaten at the other end and win a corner kick, which leads to Eriksson's shot being blocked in a packed penalty area. Just a sign there that Roma must remain alert after an open start at both ends, as Gervinho drifts out wide to threaten once more.
Eriksson is very fortunate after appearing to flick out at Strootman on the floor following a 50-50 in midfield, with play continuing as Roma pick the ball up out wide before a speculative drive well wide from Dodo.
Roma ramp up the pressure as Pjanic has a fierce strike from 30 yards blocked behind by Astori, with the following corner kick leading to a Florenzi piledriver clearing the crossbar by some distance.
Cossu hits the floor theatrically after a challenge with studs showing from De Rossi, who escapes a caution despite definitely making contact. Cagliari have come through a tough start as they look to establish a foothold in the match.
The referee appears to have played advantage after Florenzi goes down just outside the penalty area, despite Gervinho being crowded out in the box soon after. Dessena definitely made contact but probably just outside the box, but surely had to halt play and give the hosts a free kick in such a dangerous position. Florenzi is fuming.
Roma are starting to dominate possession as Strootman switches play with a clever long diagonal to Gervinho. He quickly finds Maicon bombing beyond on the overlap, but a cutback into the penalty area fails to find a static Ljajic at the near post.
Maicon has seen more of the ball than any other Roma player so far, regularly being left by Eriksson to make roaming runs down the right. Still no cutting pass in the final third though, with Cagliari pressing quite high and holding firm.
Sau just fails to bring down a brilliant long pass as Roma get off the hook and quickly stride forward, with Stroorman's drilled low cross hooked off Florenzi's toe by Pisano in the penalty area.
SHOT! Half of the Olimpico thinks that Pjanic has broken the deadlock with a stinging drive from distance, but his effort goes just beyond the near post before bouncing behind the net to create a ripple. Pjanic nearly made Conti pay there for losing possession in his own half, with Dessena then hitting quite possibly the worst shot you will see all season, hookinh an effort out for a throw in still a full 25 yards from goal.
SAVE! Cagliari come within a whisker of taking a shock lead as Ibarbo's downward header looks destined to nestle in the bottom corner. His lead looked to have caught De Sanctis by surprise, but the stopper scrambled and just managed to stop the header creeping inside his near post at full stretch. Nervy moments for the Giallorossi.
Castan puts his hand in Ibarbo's face and is fortunate that Cagliari only win a corner when he clears, particularly with an extra official placed just two feet away behind the touchline. The visitors have to settle for a set piece that is easily cleared by Benatia at the near post.
OFF THE POST! A wonderfully-worked move sees Roma create a chance for Gervinho, who sees a firm header from close range come crashing back off the near post. Agonisingly close for the hosts, as Strootman forces a superb save from Avramov just moments later following a clever clipped pass to the back post by De Rossi.
Benatia bundles into the back of Ibarbo with a late barge but escapes without a caution. Roma are definitely worried about the threat posed by the pacy striker, as Sau's attempt to meet a clever free kick is cut off by Strootman.
HALF TIME: Roma 0-0 Cagliari
Frustration for Roma at the interval then, failing to take the one glorious opportunity they created as Gervinho saw his header hit the woodwork. Cagliari have played their part and probably deserve parity at the interval, with the match finely poised.
Roma's main creative influence Pjanic has been quiet so far tonight, while Ljajic and Florenzi have struggled to make their mark in the final. Gervinho's looked most likely for the hosts on his return from injury, driving forward with pace and purpose but failing to beat Avramov and a stubborn Cagliari defence.
The visitors have offered plenty in an intriguing encounter and look a threat when Ibarbo gets on the ball, going very close to breaking the deadlock with a powerful header that forced a fine save from De Sanctis. Sau and Eriksson have also shown some attacking endeavour in support, while Conti looks to be enjoying the occasion sat in front of the back four.
BENCH WATCH! If Roma want the breakthrough that will reclaim top spot in Serie A they may well need a positive impact from a substitute after the interval. There may be no Totti but Borriello is waiting in the wings, while Destro and Bradley are also capable of unlocking the door on their day.
Just about ready to resume hostilities then, can Roma return to winning ways and maintain their unbeaten start, or will Cagliari to advantage of a tense atmosphere to take a positive result back to Sardinia? We are about to find out!
Roma get back underway and quickly get Pjanic on the ball in the final third, but his flick over the top towards Ljajic is hammered clear by a covering Ibarbo. A sign of things to come in this half perhaps.
MISS! Benatia wastes a glorious opportunity after being presented with the chance to strike under no pressure eight yards from goal. The centre-back was first to react after Florenzi's volley at the far post was parried by Avramov, but took a wild swing at the ball after a rush of blood to the head and could only slice a great chance well wide.
SAVE! The Roma siege continues as Maicon has a powerful strike tipped beyond the far post by Avramov, with Cagliari able to regroup and hack away the following corner kick.
Cagliari have a goal disallowed for offside just as they look to have caught the hosts cold from a corner kick. A lucky escape for the Giallorossi, who were found wanting after Dodo hacked away under pressure from Sau.
Roma steam back into the final third after that wake-up call as Maicon has a cross deflected wide, but fail to make anything of the corner kick as Sau breaks at the other end. The hosts have committed too many men forward but Sau fails to take advantage, dragging a low strike wide of the target. This match has become ridiculously open, particularly for a goalless draw.
Florenzi and De Rossi both miss a Pjanic corner as Cagliari somehow manage to crowd out another Roma set piece. The corner count is mounting up as Roma take the next one short, but Dodo can't make the most of the space offered and smashes over the target.
Ljajic proves wasteful in search of Florenzi over the top as another Roma attack breaks down, with patience starting to wear thin in the Curva Sud.
SUBSTITUTION: Eriksson plays the wrong pass to Sau, aiming for his feet when the forward wanted a long pass to chase in behind. Cagliari continue to offer a threat on the counter but concede a corner kick, which leads to a change for the visitors as Sau is replaced by Pinilla for fresh legs in attack.
SUBSTITUTION: Roma throw on a more physical presence in attack as Borriello replaces Florenzi, immediately taking up a central strike position. Soon after Pinilla picks up a caution for dissent after arguing over a free kick, which Pjanic wastes as he fires at least 10 yards over the crossbar, but rather fortunately gets a corner kick.
Roma boss Garcia has been sent to the stands after reacting angrily to a string of decisions from the official, followed by Ivo Pulga as both coaches are given their marching orders. Soon after Conti is booked for arguing over the award of a corner kick, with this match now threatening to boil over with frustration.
YELLOW CARD! Maicon quickly joins Conti in the book for deliberate handball as he cynically broke up a potential Cagliari counter. This match is sill there for the taking if either team can keep a cool head in the closing stages.
Pinilla and Conti kill the clock by keeping possession for 30 seconds, before Roma come again through Pjanic. He helps switch the play to Dodo, who can only sent a tame cross through to Avramov who claims under no pressure.
Tempers flare between Eriksson and Pjanic after the playmaker was clipped, with Borriello and Murru quickly on the scene. The referee eventually brings play back after some deliberation, booking Eriksson. Both teams use the break in play to make a change, with Cabrera on for Cossu and Bradley replacing Maicon.
Pjanic lofts a truly woeful free kick over a packed penalty area, wasting another chance to send a dangerous cross into the box. Garcia meanwhile is using walky-talkies to get his messages across in comical fashion despite being sent to the stands.
SHOT! Cagliari threaten as Eriksson tries his luck with a rasping drive that needs turning over the top from De Sanctis. Soon after Borriello is cautioned for a foul in the build-up to that move, with De Sanctis out quickly to confidently claim the corner kick when it comes in.
SUBSTITUTION: Roma are forced to use their final change on a defensive move as we head towards stoppage time, with Burdisso replacing a clearly stricken Benatia. Time fading fast for the Giallorossi, as the referee signals four added minutes.
OFF THE POST! Gervinho dribbles out wide and wins a late corner kick, which sees Burdisso flick a header from Ljajic off the outside of the post. Inches away from a dramatic impact for the substitute just moments after being introduced.
FULL TIME: Roma 0-0 Cagliari
A very frustrating evening for Roma ends goalless then, with Cagliari more than contributing to a match which sees them take a hard-fought point back to Sardinia.
Roma's third successive draw means that they stay unbeaten but relinquish the lead in Serie A, falling a point behind Juventus as the strain of maintaining that incredible start finally begins to show.
That entertaining clash brings an end to our live text coverage from round 13 of Serie A, but be sure to stay in touch with Sports Mole for comprehensive coverage of all the action across the continent this week.
