SM
Fulham vs. Brentford: 1 hr 24 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
CL
Serie A | Gameweek 18
Dec 30, 2023 at 2pm UK
Sardegna Arena
EL

Cagliari
0 - 0
Empoli


Lapadula (29')
FT

Maleh (29'), Cacace (64'), Walukiewicz (80')

Preview: Cagliari vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Cagliari vs. Empoli - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Cagliari and Empoli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Gameweek 18 in Serie A sees two relegation-threatened sides battle in Sardinia on Saturday when Cagliari host Empoli at the Unipol Domus.

Claudio Ranieri's men have lost two on the trot but come into round 18's clash in slightly healthier form than their second-bottom opponents.


Match preview

It has been a stop-start return to the top division for Cagliari, with their unsurprising inconsistency seeing them occupy 18th in Serie A heading into the final gameweek of 2023.

There have been a few false dawns to offer optimism, the latest being the 2-1 triumph over Sassuolo on December 12, followed by defeats against Napoli (2-1) and Hellas Verona (2-0).

Losing at Verona was particularly damaging, as Ranieri's men slipped into the bottom three after that loss before Christmas and sit a point ahead of this weekend's opponents.

The Sardinians can draw confidence from their recent form on home turf, evident in the four-match sequence that has seen the Rossoblu claim 10 points from an available 12 in recent games in front of their supporters.

Extending that run to five could take Ranieri's team out of the bottom three, even if only a win guarantees that outcome heading into the New Year.

The home fans could look forward to that eventuality based on Empoli's wretched results in recent months and most of the 2023-24 season.

Aurelio Andreazzoli's team have notched surprising victories at Fiorentina (2-0) and Napoli (1-0) since the Massa-born manager replaced Paolo Zanetti in September, but the Italian's spell has delivered little else.

With five league defeats in their last eight, Empoli are not in the bottom three by accident, although they could still escape the danger zone with a third away triumph of the campaign.

The Azzurri have netted just five times on the road all season, failing to score in 50% of their eight away games, underscoring the goalscoring prowess outside Tuscany.

It remains to be seen if they are successful in Sardinia on Saturday, but recent results give little hope for a positive outcome.

Cagliari Serie A form:

Empoli Serie A form:


Team News

Antoine Makoumbou is suspended for Cagliari, and the midfield man misses Saturday's game for Ranieri's troops.

Eldor Shomurodov (foot) and Marko Rog (ACL) are both missing for the home side, with the pair not expected to return until February.

As for Empoli, Francesco Caputo, Bartosz Bereszynski, and Gabriele Guarino have muscle injuries that should rule them out of Saturday's action; Giuseppe Pezzella's back problem also keeps the defender out.

With Caputo doubtful, the low-scoring away side have no player with more than one goal this term, giving Andreazzoli a headache heading into the game.


Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Goldaniga, Chatzidiakos, Dossena; Nandez, Suleman, Viola, Prati, Augello; Lapadula, Oristanio

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Sastoni; Fazzini, Grassi, Maleh; Cancellieri, Maldini, Cambiaghi


We say: Cagliari 2-1 Empoli

While the away side may find the back of the net, Cagliari hope to extend their undefeated run at home to five games.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__532332 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:25:12:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:25:12 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's Serie A predictions including Napoli vs. Cagliari
A lasting legacy, motivated by money? Edu leaves Arsenal and breaks silence on exit
Preview: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups
Monday's Serie A predictions including Lazio vs. Cagliari
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Juventus115601971221
6Lazio106132213919
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Roma113441214-213
12Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
13Empoli1025379-211
14CagliariCagliari10235817-99
15Como102351221-99
16Parma101631416-29
17Monza111551014-48
18VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
19Lecce11227420-168
20Genoa10136721-146
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

1

HF

Five Man City players missing from training ahead of Sporting clash

2

FM

Preview: Besiktas vs. Malmo - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PB

Was the injury serious? City reveal Sporting squad after Haaland scare

NEW

4

WT

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

5

MM

Premier League move? Real Madrid 'questioning Vinicius Jr commitment level'

6

PL

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PI

Walking a tightrope: Which two Liverpool stars could miss Real Madrid clash?

8

WA

Pictured: Liverpool star returns to training after painful injury

9

PL

Chelsea suffer Osimhen transfer blow as £42m January twist 'revealed'

10

CS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .