Roma draw a blank

Roma failed to reclaim top spot in Serie A on Monday evening after being held to a 0-0 draw by Cagliari.

Roma failed to reclaim top spot in Serie A on Monday evening after being held to a 0-0 draw by Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. The hosts went the closest to breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute when Gervinho saw his effort hit the bar. But, despite enjoying plenty of possession, Roma could not find a way past Cagliari goalkeeper Vlada Avramov, who made several saves to deny the Giallorossi three points. The result, Roma's third straight draw, has left them unbeaten but second in the standings with 33 points. Juventus are one point clear of the Romans at the top of the table after beating Livorno on Sunday. The visitors went into the match in Rome looking for their first win on the road this season, but Roma threatened on the half-hour mark when Miralem Pjanic's bullet strike from 30 yards went just wide of the far post. Cagliari had their first chance three minutes later when Victor Ibarbo got his head behind Andrea Cossu's cross but his effort was kept out by Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis. Gervinho then saw his header from Dodo's cross strike the bar with Avramov already beaten. Before half-time, Daniele De Rossi spotted an unmarked Kevin Strootman in the box and his 12-yard shot was met by a great save from Avramov. Roma twice had the chance to go in front early in the second half but could not beat Avramov. The Cagliari goalkeeper also made an instinctive save to clear Alessandro Florenzi's right-footed volley while in the 53rd minute, he fully stretched to clear Maicon's stinging drive from outside the area. In the 55th minute, Marcos Sau beat De Sanctis but the goal was disallowed for offside. Roma coach Rudi Garcia was sent off for dissent in the 73rd minute as the encounter heated up. In the 85th minute, after a spell of play in which both teams failed to put a good move together, De Sanctis was called into action. He quickly made a diving save to clear Sebastian Eriksson's effort from 30 yards. Avramov ensured his side took home a point when he stretched to clear Leandro Castan's powerful header on target with seconds remaining.