The 2018-19 campaign delivered a tense season of calculated survival for Cagliari, with Casteddu, under Rolando Maran, ultimately securing their Serie A status with a 15th-place finish. Spearheading the attack was the powerful centre-forward Leonardo Pavoletti, whose vital 16 goals provided the crucial attacking platform to distance the club from the relegation battle. The campaign was defined by a solid home record and the invaluable presence of future star Nicolò Barella, as the club successfully did "what they had to" to cling onto their place in the top flight, marking a key chapter of consolidation.