Cagliari host Venezia at the Unipol Domus this weekend in the penultimate round of the Serie A season. With both teams still battling for safety, a closely contested high-scoring affair could be on the cards.
Cagliari head into this fixture amid a troubling run of form, having suffered four defeats in their last five league outings, including a 3-1 loss at Como last weekend. They have also been erratic at home lately, with just three wins from their last 10 matches in front of their fans.
Defensive vulnerabilities have been a recurring theme, with the team failing to keep a clean sheet in four of their last five matches. conceding eight goals in that run. However, Davide Nicola’s men often show some quality at the other end of the pitch and have scored in nine of their last 10 matches.
Venezia come into this clash off the back of a crucial 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in their previous Serie A fixture. It was a vital result for Eusebio Di Francesco’s team who are now unbeaten in five of their last six matches and sit one point above the relegation zone.
The visitors have drawn their last five away matches and will be keen to turn some of those results into wins. They look sharp going forward but there is need for some defensive improvement, scoring and conceding in eight of their last nine away matches.
How the bookies view it: Little to separate them
There is little to separate both teams among the bookies with a win for Cagliari priced at 7/5 with BoyleSports, who are also offering 15/8 for a Venezia win. A draw is set at odds of 19/10.
Head to head: Venezia on top
Venezia have a 6-4 advantage with eight draws from 18 previous matches against Cagliari. The visitors also claimed a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture back in December.
Players to watch: Reliable Piccoli
Roberto Piccoli is Cagliari’s league top scorer with nine goals and could be the one to watch on Sunday. The striker has been on target in two of the last four matches and is priced at 2/1 by BoyleSports to find the net here.
Gaetano Oristanio scored the second against Fiorentina last weekend and could be worth keeping an eye on. The forward is priced at odds of 7/2 by BoyleSports to get on the score sheet once again.
Probable line-ups
Sebastiano Luperto, Jakub Jankto and Yerry Mina are unavailable for Cagliari due to injuries while Leonardo Pavoletti is suspended. However, Nadir Zortea, Michel Adopo and Piccoli are expected to start.
Venezia will be without Cheick Conde, Joseph Duncan, and Michael Svoboda due to several knocks. However, Gaetano Oristanio, John Yeboah and Caviglia are all expected to start.
Cagliari: Caprile, Obert, Palomino, Zappa, Zortea, Makoumbou, Adopo, Augello, Viola, Luvumbo, Piccoli
Venezia: Radu, Haps, Idzes, Schingtienne, Ellertsson, Busio, Caviglia, Perez, Zerbin, Yeboah, Oristanio
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in six of the last eight meetings and a repeat is expected at 8/11 on BoyleSports. Three of the last four matches between both teams have produced over 2.5 goals, which is priced at 21/20.
Cagliari’s last five Serie A games have produced goals in each half and Sunday’s clash could be set for a similar outcome at 20/21 with BoyleSports.
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