Cagliari and Salernitana are level on seven points in Serie A, and the two rivals are fighting for their lives on the peninsula. On matchday 14, Cagliari will host Salernitana with three massive points up for grabs.
The Islanders are 19th in Serie A going into the weekend. Salernitana are 20th in the division and behind Cagliari due to goal difference.
The teams will play a massive six-point relegation battle at the Sardegna Arena on Friday night.
Walter Mazzarri’s Cagliari are winless in five straight games with four of those fixtures ending in losses. Newly-promoted Salernitana are on a three-match losing streak in Serie A.
Salernitana have been labelled as one of the worst teams, in terms of quality, to be promoted to Serie A in recent seasons.
Manager Stefano Colantuono is aiming to end the team’s losing streak against a team they haven’t done well against in recent meetings.
Cagliari and Salernitana have not met since the 2015-16 Serie B campaign. The Islanders won the last three meetings between the clubs and are unbeaten in seven of the last 10 matches against Salernitana in all competitions.
Neither team has played well in defence this season. Cagliari and Salernitana have conceded the joint-most goals with 28 allowed in 13 games.
Salernitana have scored the league’s fewest goals with 10. Cagliari have scored 15 goals, the third-fewest in Serie A.
Mazzarri has four players on the injury list going into matchday 13. Walukiewicz is a doubt due to a hip injury. Midfielder Marko Rog has a knee issue and is also a doubt to make the squad.
Forward Damir Ceter and midfielder Riccardo Ladinetti are both doubts to play due to their respective injuries.
Colantuono has four names on the injury list going into the weekend fixture. Franck Ribery is ruled out until mid-December with a knee injury.
Defender Frederic Veseli is ruled out with a calf injury. Goalkeeper Antonio Russo and Defender Matteo Ruggeri are both doubts due to injuries.
Cagliari have taken five of their seven points at home this season. The Islanders have scored 10 goals and conceded 13 at the Sardegna Arena. Salernitana have taken three points on the road. Five of their six away matches ended in losses.
Salernitana’s poor run of results on the road should continue this weekend as Cagliari get a victory at home. The match should see both defences conceded as both teams score and over 2.5 goals are tallied in Cagliari win.