The action gets underway on Friday night in Serie A this week with a match between Cagliari and Inter Milan at the Sardegna Arena.
The hosts begin this game in 14th place with 24 points to their name but relegation remains a concern as they are only 6 points clear of 18th place Bologna. Inter Milan on the other hand are aiming to finish in the top four this season and qualify for the Champions League. They begin the weekend in 3rd place, 2 points clear of 4th place AC Milan.
Cagliari slumped to another defeat last weekend as they went down 1-0 to Sampdoria in Genoa. That result means Cagliari have won only one of their last eight Serie A matches. That win came at home against Parma two weeks ago but overall, Cagliari’s form has been poor.
In fact, trends show Cagliari have lost four of their last five games and have won only two of their last fifteen in Serie A.
However, they have not been easy to beat at home and Cagliari have lost only two of their last thirteen home Serie A matches. That being said, wins have been hard to come by and Cagliari have won two of their last seven games on home soil and have kept one clean sheet in their last six matches at the Sardegna Arena.
Inter Milan were involved in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Fiorentina last weekend in Serie A. However, having moved into a 3-1 lead in the second half, Inter Milan will be disappointed to have come away with just a point, especially as they conceded a last minute equaliser.
Nonetheless, that draw means Inter Milan are now five games unbeaten following a run where they lost three matches in succession. There have been wins over Parma and Sampdoria in Serie A plus victories in the home and away leg of the Europa League against Rapid Vienna.
Trends show Inter are not easy to beat in Serie A and have lost only four of their last twenty-seven matches in the league. They have lost one of their last five away Serie A games and scored at least once in twelve of their last fifteen on the road.
Inter Milan have enjoyed their recent trips to Cagliari, winning each of the last three.
Team news and Cagliari are without Alessandro Deiola who is suspended. Fabrizio Cacciatore is back in training but Lucas Nahuel Castro and Ragnar Klavan are injured.
Inter Milan continue without Sime Vrsaljko who is out for the season and striker Mauro Icardi, who is injured and has off the field problems at the club.
Despite continuing without their top goal scorer, Inter Milan should have enough to pick up maximum points in this game. They will also fancy their chances of keeping a clean sheet.