Serie A | Cagliari 3-2 Atalanta: Magical Mendy full debut stuns Dea | OneFootball

Cagliari won a 3-2 thriller against Atalanta and broke eight points clear of the relegation battle with Paul Mendy’s brace on his full debut, and Gennaro Borrelli off the bench, despite a Gianluca Scamacca brace.

The Sardinians risked getting dragged back into the danger zone after scraping just one win and two draws in the last 10 rounds. Leonardo Pavoletti, Luca Mazzitelli, Mattia Felici and Riyad Idrissi were still out of action, but striker Paul Mendy got a surprise start with Marco Palestra benched against his parent club. La Dea were smarting after losing the Coppa Italia semi-final to Lazio on penalties, with Lorenzo Bernasconi sustaining a knee ligament injury and Isak Hien still struggling.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – APRIL 27: Paul Mendy of Cagliari celebrates his goal 1-0 during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Atalanta BC at Stadio Sant’Elia on April 27, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Cagliari youth team striker Mendy made an immediate impact on the first start of his professional career at the age of 19, as within 16 seconds he got his head to the Michel Adopo cross from the right and turned it into the net.

Incredibly, the teenager added another moments later. Marco Carnesecchi made a sensational save to deny Alessandro Deiola from a corner, but could do nothing when Mendy’s follow-up from six yards was deflected in off Berat Djimsiti’s chest.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – APRIL 27: Paul Mendy of Cagliari celebrates his goal 1-0 during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Atalanta BC at Stadio Sant’Elia on April 27, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

They threatened a third on the counter sparked by Mendy, but Marten de Roon was decisive to stop Deiola sliding in from six yards on another low Adopo cross.

Atalanta woke up from their Coppa Italia hangover when Charles De Ketelaere’s effort was charged down, but Gianluca Scamacca bent the rebound into the far bottom corner with a wonderful curling right-foot finish from 14 yards.

Within five minutes, they had drawn level, as Giorgio Scalvini pulled back from the right for Scamacca to sweep in first time from 12 yards.

Juan Rodriguez risked an own goal when sliding in to intercept the Raoul Bellanova low cross moments later, but prodded it at teammate Elia Caprile.

Mendy’s dream full debut ended at half-time when he pulled up clutching the back of his left thigh, but his replacement Gennaro Borrelli took under a minute to add his contribution.

Michael Folorunsho rode two tackles to get the shot away, charged down by Sead Kolasinac, but only into the path of Borrelli to fire in for 3-2 from eight yards.

Marco Palestra came on against his parent club and Atalanta tried to use two centre-forwards together, pinning the Sardinians back into their own half, but barely troubling Caprile.

Borrelli’s game was brief, as he too pulled up clutching the back of his left thigh and was forced off the field for Cagliari. His replacement Andrea Belotti nearly scored within 20 seconds when sent clear on goal, but was denied by Carnesecchi one-on-one.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – APRIL 27: Referee Juan Luca Sacchi reacts with Yerry Mina of Cagliari during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Atalanta BC at Stadio Sant’Elia on April 27, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

At the other end, Mario Pasalic’s acrobatic control and bicycle kick flashed just wide of the near post, then Caprile made an astonishing reaction save on Nikola Krstovic from the Ederson through ball.

Caprile was again called into action to prevent Scamacca’s header completing a hat-trick on the Lazar Samardzic cross.

It kept going to the final whistle, as Caprile made up for flapping at an Atalanta corner by rushing out to use his body against Raspadori’s finish from point-blank range.

Cagliari 3-2 Atalanta

Mendy 1, 8 (C), Scamacca 40, 45 (A), Borrelli 46 (C)