Heading into their clash at the Unipol Domus Stadium, Lecce had only scored six goals in 11 matches on their travels, making them the Serie A’s lowest scorers.
Their chances of improving on that total looked bleak in the early stages, as it was Cagliari that almost drew first blood when Leonardo Pavoletti powered his header over the bar from point-blank range.
The hosts should have kicked on from here and controlled the contest, but Lecce began to look dangerous on the counter-attack.
In this period of newfound Lecce dominance, Walid Chaddira’s weak effort was easily stopped by Elia Caprile, and Riccardo Sottil flashed his chance high over the bar after Sebastiano Esposito was caught napping deep in his own half.
And Lecce were almost made to pay for their missed opportunities, when Gabriele Zappa slammed his shot wide of the target, before Pavoletti’s brilliantly whipped in cross was headed over the bar by Ibrahim Sulemana.
Lecce looked reinvigorated once play resumed, and Cheddira continued to look menacing in pursuit of the game's all-important first goal. He jumped the highest and directed his header into the bottom left corner, but Caprile showcased his brilliant reflexes to pull off a glorious save.
However, Cagliari’s goalkeeper could do nothing to deny Omri Gandelman’s excellent glancing header, following Sottil’s brilliant set-piece.
That goal sparked the game into life, but a response from the hosts wasn’t forthcoming.
And the visitors sealed their victory with just over 15 minutes remaining, when Ylber Ramadani’s screamer into the bottom left corner propelled the away supporters into dreamland – albeit after a VAR review – and handed Lecce only their third league away win this season.
In turn, they are now three points clear of 18th-placed Fiorentina, and within grasping distance of mid-table Cagliari.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ylber Ramadani (Lecce)