CAGLIARI will conclude their Serie A campaign with a home game against Fiorentina at the Unipol Domus on Thursday night.
After looking like certainties for relegation at the turn of the year, Claudio Ranieri’s side have managed to pull off the great escape with a game to spare.
A 2-0 success at Sassuolo on Sunday, coupled with results elsewhere, means the Sardinians have avoided a quickfire return to Serie B.
Club icon Ranieri has since announced that he will be stepping down from his role, which means that he will manage his beloved Cagliari for the last time against Fiorentina this midweek.
Vincenzo Italiano’s visitors sit eighth in Serie A following a thrilling 2-2 draw at home to Napoli last weekend.
While La Viola are still in the mix to qualify for Europe next season, they will almost certainly be prioritising their upcoming Europa Conference League final with Olympiakos.
How the bookies view it: Fiorentina to spoil Ranieri’s farewell
Despite losing just three of their last 13 Serie A matches, Cagliari come into this clash as 15/4 (Bet 365) outsiders while the draw is also considered unlikely at 11/4 (Bet 365).
Fiorentina are odds-on 3/4 (Bet 365) favourites to pick up maximum points from what is their penultimate league game of the season.
Head to head: La Viola looking for another victory
Fiorentina claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory from October’s reverse fixture. That success means the Florence-based outfit have now avoided defeat in each of their last six meetings with Cagliari.
The Red and Blues haven’t reigned supreme in this fixture since recording a resounding 5-2 win all the way back in November 2019.
Players to watch: Gonzalez hunting more goals
Nicolas Gonzalez has been Fiorentina’s standout performer this season, having registered 19 goal involvements across all competitions. The Argentine ace is 10/11 on Bet 365 to either strike or provide an assist on Thursday night.
Yerry Mina has scored in two of his last four appearances for Cagliari so the towering Colombian defender looks worthy of interest to have a solitary a shot on goal at 5/4 with Bet 365.
Predicted line-ups
Claudio Ranieri will be unable to call upon defender Alberto Dossena, who will have to serve a suspension after picking up a yellow card in the 2-0 win over Sassuolo.
With next week’s Europa Conference League on the horizon, Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano is expected to name an under-strength side in Sardinia.
Cagliari: Scuffet; Zappa, Obert, Mina, Augello; Deiola, Sulemana; Nandez, Shomurodov, Gaetano; Lapadula
Fiorentina: Terracciano; Dodo, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Bonaventura, Arthur; Gonzalez, Beltran, Ikone; Nzola
Anything else catch the eye?
Given how strongly Cagliari have ended the season, coupled with the fact that this will be Claudio Ranieri’s swansong, siding with the hosts in the Double Chance market stands out at even-money (1/1) on Bet 365.
The hosts have avoided defeat in each of their last six Serie A outings in front of their own supporters, a sample that has seen the likes of Napoli, Atalanta and Juventus all fail to take top honours from their respective visits to this venue.
With that in mind, as well as the likelihood of Fiorentina having one eye on next week’s Europa Conference League final, backing Cagliari to avoid defeat looks a great value option at evens on Bet 365.
This Serie A match between Cagliari and Fiorentina will be played on May 23, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Cagliari vs Fiorentina prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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