Cagliari secured a 2-1 victory at Atalanta to win their opening two away matches of a Serie A season for only the third time in their history.
The result also gave the Rossoblu back-to-back head-to-head victories over Atalanta for the first time since 2018, extending a remarkable run of form after their difficult start to the campaign.
Cagliari began brightly in Bergamo and created the first significant opportunity inside 15 minutes. Alessandro Romano took aim from distance, but Marco Carnesecchi reacted well to turn his effort around the post.
The visitors took a deserved lead in the 19th minute. Michel Adopo burst into space behind the Atalanta defence before cutting the ball back for Paul Mendy, who finished against the underside of the crossbar.
Cagliari continued to threaten and nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Maldini curled an effort towards the corner, only for Carnesecchi to push it away.
That save proved particularly important as Atalanta levelled before half-time. Charles De Ketelaere powered through the middle of the pitch and, although Cagliari appeared to have stopped his progress, the ball fell to Gianluca Scamacca, who drove a low finish into the far corner.
Cagliari responded immediately after the interval and believed they had restored their lead when Mendy converted after being played through by Romano. However, following a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out because Mendy had been marginally offside before running clear.
The visitors went ahead again when Sead Kolasinac was penalised for handball inside the penalty area. Maldini took responsibility from the spot and sent his former team-mate Carnesecchi the wrong way.
Atalanta struggled to find a way back into the match, although Lazar Samardzic almost produced an equaliser against the run of play. He squeezed between several defenders in the area before his final touch sent the ball inches wide.
The hosts could not find another opening, and Cagliari held on to move on to nine points after four games. It is only the third time in the club’s history that they have reached that total at this stage.
Gianluca Scamacca was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match for Atalanta.