SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Transfer deadline: 3 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
CL
Cagliari logo
Serie A | Gameweek 31
Apr 17, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Stadio Sant'Elia
PL
Parma logo

Cagliari
4 - 3
Parma

Pavoletti (39'), Marin (66'), Pereiro (90+1'), Cerri (90+4')
Marin (30'), Duncan (46'), Nandez (80'), Nainggolan (83')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Pezzella (5'), Kucka (31'), Man (59')
Pezzella (24'), Kurtic (58')

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

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

Separated by just two points at the wrong end of the Serie A standings, 18th-placed Cagliari host the side just below them on Saturday, as Parma arrive in Sardinia seeking a miracle to survive.

With time fast running out, the losers at the Sardegna Arena are surely bound for demotion next month, as next-closest club Torino are five points ahead of the hosts with a game still in hand.


Match preview

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

Ahead of a potentially definitive clash against one of their chief rivals to avoid dropping into Serie B, Cagliari's promising upturn after head coach Leonardo Semplici took over in February has undeniably come to an end.

Having rejuvenated his new side in an all-too-brief honeymoon period, their new-found positivity has dissipated of late, courtesy of four consecutive defeats - the most recent of which came last weekend at champions-elect Inter.

By common consent, Semplici's men had the best of the game against Antonio Conte's ruthless counter-attacking unit, but once more failed to create enough chances - or convert those that came - and they have now netted just twice in their last four games.

Coming into Saturday's game in the rare position as favourites, the Isolani will not be able to rely on fond memories created on Sardinian soil this term. Indeed, they have accumulated only 12 points in 15 home games to date, with their only win in the last five home outings coming against Bologna in early March.

Cagliari have, though, lost only one of their last nine meetings with Parma and - perhaps tellingly - they have frequently been able to pick up points from games against clubs around them, having won each of their last four league games against sides in the bottom three. Their visitors, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four against such opponents.

Having also understandably been beaten by one of the league-leading Milan clubs last week - going down 3-1 at home to Stefano Pioli's second-placed Rossoneri - troubled Parma are in serious danger of seeing their recent renaissance set back by being relegated to the second tier.

After three seasons at the highest level - following their ascent from the depths of Serie D in 2015 - hasty changes of management, scattergun transfer strategy and a series of destabilising injuries have left them scrapping for survival.

Returning coach Roberto D'Aversa has found no solutions to the Crociati's troubles at the back, with their tally of 59 goals conceded better only than bottom side Crotone, who have the leakiest rearguard in the top five European leagues. Not only that, but his team have the least effective attack - currently averaging less than a goal per game in Serie A.

Now with eight points from their last eight outings, the Gialloblu are seven points adrift of safety and have just eight games remaining to save themselves.

Since D'Aversa stepped back into the dugout, Parma have drawn four of their six away matches - including each of their last three - but now need experienced campaigners such as top scorer Juraj Kucka (with six) and journeyman striker Graziano Pelle to convert singles into maximums - starting in Cagliari this week.

Cagliari Serie A form:
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L

Parma Serie A form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L



Team News

There are several potential absences for Leonardo Semplici to contend with in the build-up to Saturday's six-pointer. In addition to longer-term injury victims Marko Rog and Riccardo Sottil, the condition of Luca Ceppitelli, Alessandro Deiola and French midfielder Matteo Tramoni will be assessed ahead of the game.

Cagliari do hope to have Alessio Cragno - who was among several Italian players testing positive for COVID-19 upon their return from international duty - back in goal if he returns a negative test, though Guglielmo Vicario will deputise between the posts again if required.

Meanwhile, up front, Leonardo Pavoletti is favourite ahead of Giovanni Simeone to partner top-scoring skipper Joao Pedro.

Visiting coach Roberto D'Aversa also has numerous injury concerns, with several potential options possibly being sidelined alongside certain absentees Joshua Zirkzee and Mattia Sprocati.

Players including Yann Karamoh, Simone Iacoponi, Roberto Inglese, Juan Brunetta and Romanian forward Valentin Mihaila are in doubt to make the trip south, while last week's goalscorer, defender Riccardo Gagliolo, must serve a suspension: Venezuelan centre-back Yordan Osorio is expected to step in.

Mihalia's compatriot Dennis Man should continue out wide in Parma's three-man strike force, with Andreas Cornelius asked to make an impact at centre-forward despite having netted only once in 21 previous outings.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Klavan, Godin, Rugani; Nandez, Marin, Nainggolan, Duncan, Zappa; Pavoletti, Joao Pedro

Parma possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Conti, Bani, Osorio, Pezzella; Grassi, Kurtic, Brugman; Man, Cornelius, Kucka


We say: Cagliari 1-0 Parma

This imperiled pair are two of the four Serie A sides which have failed to score on the most occasions this term - and they are similarly placed in terms of shot conversion rates - so a tense, low-scoring affair could be in prospect.

Cagliari can stay in with an outside shot of extending their four-year stay in the top flight, despite their modest attacking threat, as the grit and experience of Diego Godin, Radja Nainggolan and Ragnar Klavan may prove crucial in seeing them over the line against Serie B-bound Parma.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 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.Over 1.5: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__443223 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:46:32:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:46:32 :

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 Torino vs. Juventus
Marco and Marcus: PSG winger follows Rashford to Aston Villa on loan
The fab fourth? Man City 'agree payment structure' for £49.8m midfielder
Preview: Cagliari vs. Lazio - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli23173338162254
2Inter Milan22156156193751
3Atalanta BCAtalanta23145449262347
4Juventus23913139201940
5Fiorentina22116537231439
6Lazio2212373830839
7Bologna2291033527837
8AC Milan229853324935
9Roma238783429531
10Udinese2385102836-829
11Torino236982427-327
12Genoa236892132-1126
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2372142648-2223
14Lecce2365121841-2323
15Como2357112738-1122
16Empoli2349102233-1121
17CagliariCagliari2256112336-1321
18Parma2348112942-1320
19VeneziaVenezia2337132238-1616
20Monza2327142034-1413
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

One in, two out? Chelsea confirm key recall decision as 22-year-old returns

NEW

1

OI
One in, two out? Chelsea confirm key recall decision as 22-year-old returns

Any transfer hints? Chelsea, West Ham name teams for Premier League game

NEW

2

AT
Any transfer hints? Chelsea, West Ham name teams for Premier League game

Preview: Strasbourg vs. Angers - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PS
Preview: Strasbourg vs. Angers - prediction, team news, lineups

Who will replace Rudiger? Predicted Real Madrid XI vs. Leganes

NEW

4

WW
Who will replace Rudiger? Predicted Real Madrid XI vs. Leganes

Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

5

MI
Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

Chelsea closing in on £15m deal for Saint-Etienne midfielder?

6

CC
Chelsea closing in on £15m deal for Saint-Etienne midfielder?

Amorim's playmaker: Man United to target former player in summer?

7

AP
Amorim's playmaker: Man United to target former player in summer?

Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PL
Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Transfer news and rumours: Asensio to Aston Villa, Palmer to Ipswich

9

TN

Chelsea 'hold talks' for Sporting youngster ahead of deadline day deal

10

C'
1x1


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