Frosinone had the ball and the shots, Cagliari had the goal

Michel Adopo's first-half goal was enough for Cagliari, despite Frosinone controlling the ball and creating far more chances.

Frosinone had the ball at Unipol Domus, and they had it for most of the afternoon. Their share was well above the 45.3% they average in away matches this season, yet they left Cagliari with nothing. Michel Adopo scored the only goal in the 38th minute, from a pass by Paul Mendy, and that single moment decided the match.

The more telling figure for the visitors is the number of shots. Frosinone took a long list of efforts, far more than the 18.3 they usually manage on the road, and most of them came from close range. Twenty of those shots were struck from inside the penalty area, where the great majority of goals are scored.

Football people measure chance quality with expected goals, or xG, which gives each shot a value based on how often shots of that kind tend to go in. Frosinone's total of 2.46 is well above their away average of 1.72, and above the league figure of 1.48 per side. By that measure, the chances Frosinone created were the better ones, and by some distance.

Cagliari had 37% of the ball, slightly below the 40.8% they average at home. They took 14 shots, a little more than the 10 they usually manage in front of their own supporters, but their expected goals of 0.98 sat just under their usual 1.05. Their winner was a moment of quality rather than a sign of sustained pressure, and the numbers say as much.

The reason the scoreline stayed at 1-0 belongs largely to Cagliari's goalkeeper, E. Caprile. He made nine saves, and a rating of 9.3 for his display tells the story without needing much explanation. Frosinone normally score 2.4 goals a game on their travels, and here their nine shots on target did not find the net, which is the sort of result a goalkeeper's evening can produce.

Frosinone arrived with form that suggested they could take something from the trip. In their last six matches they have won four, drawn one and lost one, so this was not a side struggling for results. Cagliari's recent run is more mixed, with one win and one draw in their last six, and four defeats in the same stretch.

At home this season Cagliari have taken 13 points from ten matches, scoring nine goals and conceding fifteen. Saturday's win adds three points to that record and a clean sheet to their home tally, which is the figure that will matter most to them as the season goes on.

Player of the matchE. Caprile9 saves9.3

M. Adopo1 goal7.7

P. Mendy1 assist7.7

F. Ghedjemis6 chances created7.2