Cagliari host Juventus at the Unipol Domus on Sunday evening, hoping to extend their impressive start to the Serie A season. Fabio Pisacane’s men emerged as one of the early surprises, but faced a Bianconeri side looking to build on two consecutive wins before the international break.
“Cagliari” collected 12 points from the first five games of the league, recorded four wins and one loss. Most recently, they took a narrow 1-0 victory against Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium to extend their winning streak to three. The Sardinians’ defensive solidity was instrumental in their promotion to the top four.
“Juventus” has collected 10 points from the first 5 matches. Luciano Spalletti’s side had an inconsistent spell before the international break, but back-to-back competitive wins, including a 2-0 win over Atalanta, have restored some confidence.
However, the Bianconeri must overcome a massive injury list and a Cagliari side that has proven adept at frustrating stronger opponents. Sunday’s clash promises to be a hotly contested affair with both teams keen to continue their campaigns on a positive note.
Match preview
Cagliari
Cagliari got off to a great start under Pisacane, spending the international break in the top four. Their current tally represents the club’s best start to a top-flight campaign since 1969/70, when they won their only Scudetto.
The Sardinians have built their success on defensive discipline, conceding just one goal in their last three league wins. Defensively sound, Cagliari proved particularly tenacious after the break as they remain the only Serie A side still in the second half of this term.
Home advantage can be decisive against Juventus. Cagliari have won four of their last six Serie A games at the Unipol Domus, although their historical record against the Turin giants is a concern. A 1-0 win in this fixture last season saw the Sardinians end a run of nine consecutive matches without a win and will now look to beat the Bianconeri in back-to-back league clashes for the first time since 2009.
Daniel Maldini was once again able to play a decisive role for the hosts. The attacking midfielder has scored in three consecutive Serie A games for the first time in his career, giving Pisacane another valuable source of goals.
Juventus
Juventus travel to Sardinia looking to mount a promising response before the international break. After dropping points in consecutive league matches, Spalletti’s men thrashed NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in their Champions League opener and followed up that run with a valuable win over Atalanta.
Despite their recent improvement, Juventus have shown some weakness away from home. They ended their seven-game unbeaten run in Serie A (W4, D3) with a 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo in their previous league outing. It was also the first time since February that they had conceded more than two goals in an away league match.
However, Juventus are the only Serie A side this season not to have conceded a goal until the 60th minute, meaning opponents will have to work hard to break them down. Maintaining that early defensive solidity will be especially important against a Cagliari side that has opened the scoring in four of their five league matches.
Team News
Cagliari will be without Mattia Felici and Riyad Idrissi, while young striker Yael Trepi is a doubt. Club captain Alessandro Deiola is also struggling with injury, although a late return to the squad remains a possibility. Maldini should keep his place after scoring the last goal, Patrick Mendy is expected to lead the attack.
“Juventus” absentee list is more extensive. Kanan Yıldız, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli, Jeremie Boga, Kevin Ekhator and goalkeeper Kamil Grabara are also expected to be absent. Therefore, Pape Matar Sarr could partner Douglas Luiz in midfield, while Randal Kolo Muani could lead the line.
Cagliari vs Juventus potential starting lineups
Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Romano, Winks, Adopo; Fazzini, Maldini; Mandy.
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Viceroy; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Douglas Luiz, Sarr; Jegrova, McKennie, Alajbegovic; Kolo Muani.
Cagliari vs Juventus
Cagliari’s impressive form and solidity in defense make them a tough opponent, especially on home soil. Juventus have gained some momentum, but injury problems may limit Spalletti’s options, offering few clear-cut chances. Considering the recent defensive performances of both teams, we expect a tight fight to end in a draw.
Prediction: draw
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