The visitors controlled much of the contest at the Unipol Domus, but Cagliari took the lead in the 20th minute. Maldini finished a move involving Paul Mendy, giving Fabio Pisacane’s side an advantage they defended resolutely for much of the match.
Juventus increased the pressure after the interval, with Spalletti introducing Edon Zhegrova and Kerim Alajbegovic to change the attacking picture. Their persistence finally paid off in the 81st minute, when Alajbegovic delivered a precise cross and Kolo Muani headed home the equaliser.
The French striker almost completed the turnaround soon afterwards, but his close-range effort struck the crossbar. Cagliari survived the late pressure to preserve a valuable point, while tensions boiled over after the final whistle, with both coaches sent off following a confrontation.
Pisacane was proud of his players for standing up to an opponent with different resources and ambitions, although he acknowledged that Juventus had deserved their equaliser.
“We held our own against a team fighting for a different objective. The group showed me that it remains the same team we had before the international break. We must always show character, regardless of the opponent,” the Cagliari coach said.
He also praised midfielder Massolin, explaining that the selection was intended to make his side more adventurous in midfield.
“I chose Massolin because I wanted to take a risk in midfield, and we did that very well against an experienced team. We lowered the average age even further, and the draw does justice to the performance of these players,” Pisacane said.
Spalletti, however, felt Juventus had done enough to win and criticised the lapses that prevented them from turning their dominance into three points.
“We played a great match, but we have to add something more and recognise the decisive moments. We had control of the game from the beginning. There were things missing in our analysis and execution,” the Juventus coach said.
Spalletti also questioned his team’s concentration in the closing stages, insisting that the decisive moments demanded greater responsibility.
“We are custodians of those who wore this shirt before us, and we were not worthy of wearing it tonight. Matches like this must be won. Full stop,” he said.
Cagliari remain encouraged by their competitive start to the campaign, while Juventus leave Sardinia with a point but plenty to consider after failing to make their superiority count.