The 1996-97 campaign proved to be a season of ultimate heartbreak for Cagliari, or Casteddu, as they finished a perilous 15th in Serie A, despite the gritty efforts of their squad under coach Carlo Mazzone. Leading the charge was the veteran striker Sandro Tovalieri, whose 12 crucial goals proved vital alongside the flair of Uruguayan talents Fabián O'Neill and Darío Silva. However, the season was tragically defined by their loss in a tense relegation play-off against Piacenza, an unforgettable chapter that ended their seven-year stay in the Italian top-flight and condemned them to Serie B.