Sitting together on nine points in the Serie A standings, Cagliari and Bologna will face off in Sardinia on Tuesday evening.
Cagliari comes into the match following a disappointing defeat to Udinese, while Bologna had their weekend fixture against AC Milan postponed due to safety concerns stemming from flooding in Emilia-Romagna.
Cagliari’s recent form has been mixed, with two wins from their last three matches, alongside a draw against Juventus.
However, their optimism was dampened in their last outing when Antoine Makoumbou received a second yellow card, leaving them down to ten men.
This red card shifted the momentum, leading to a 2-0 loss against Udinese, marking Cagliari’s fourth defeat of the campaign.
Currently, they find themselves in the bottom half of the table, with a challenging run of fixtures ahead, including matches against Lazio, Milan, Fiorentina, and Atalanta before facing Juventus in the Coppa Italia’s last 16 in mid-December.
In their last meeting on Cagliari’s home turf, the Isolani emerged victorious with a 2-1 win at the beginning of this year, a result they will hope to replicate.
Bologna’s Recent Struggles
Bologna, on the other hand, has faced difficulties this season, having recently dropped points from winning positions and only managing to secure one point in their last three league matches.
Their last game against Aston Villa ended in a 2-0 defeat, compounding their struggles in Serie A, where they have recorded six draws from eight matches.
The absence of a win this season has raised concerns for Vincenzo Italiano, who will be eager to secure a victory in Sardinia to quell criticism and restore confidence.
Team News
Cagliari manager Davide Nicola will be forced to make at least one change to his lineup due to Makoumbou’s suspension. Alessandro Deiola and Matteo Prati are in contention to replace him.
Additionally, the team is hoping for the return of Jakub Jankto and Leonardo Pavoletti, both of whom are recovering from injuries.
Nicola may also consider recalling Zito Luvumbo and Nadir Zortea, who were benched against Udinese, if he chooses a more offensive formation.
For Bologna, they have enjoyed a rare break, allowing Vincenzo Italiano to limit rotation in the squad. The decision on who leads the attack remains critical, with teenage striker Santiago Castro competing with Thijs Dallinga, who started the previous match.
While Nicolo Cambiaghi, Oussama El Azzouzi, Martin Erlic, and Lewis Ferguson are sidelined due to injuries, Michel Aebischer could return after recovering from an adductor issue.
Possible Lineups
Cagliari’s Possible Starting XI:
- Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Marin, Adopo, Prati, Augello; Luvumbo, Piccoli
Bologna’s Possible Starting XI:
- Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Casale, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro
