Goal.com - Home

thumbnail Hello,
 
Played
May 7, 2012 2:45 AM SGT
Stadio Nereo Rocco — Trieste
Referee:‬ D. Orsato‎
Attendance:‬ 9500‎
 
 
 
Michele Canini 74′ (OG)

Cagliari - Juventus Preview: Serie A leaders look to keep slender lead in Scudetto race

With two games left to go in Serie A, Antonio Conte's men need a win in their last away fixture of the season to fend off advances for the top spot from reigning champions Milan

By Julian De Martinis

Davide Astori - Cagliari
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

CAGLIARI

Agazzi
Perico, Astori, Canini, Pisano
Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan
Cossu
Ribeiro, Pinilla
JUVENTUS

Buffon
Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini
Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Giaccherini
Vucinic, Borriello

The match unquestionably means more for Juventus than Cagliari; the home side are almost certain to end the season comfortably mid-table, being six points away from relegation and 14 from the final European spot in Serie A.

The Old Lady, on the other hand, are just a point above Milan following their draw to Lecce and need full points in order to assure their hold at the summit of the league.

Massimo Ficcadenti's men will look to bounce back to winning ways after a 2-1 loss to Genoa during midweek. The 14th-placed side will likely make a few changes from their defeat, with Alessandro Agostini suspended and Daniele Dessena a doubt for the match.

Up front, either Thiago Ribeiro or Ibarbo will start alongside team top goalscorer Mauricio Pinilla. The midfield quartet is set to stay the same as usual whereas the backline is also expected to look vastly familiar.

The visitors have lost Paolo De Ceglie for the rest of the season with a thigh problem and Simone Pepe is also likely to miss the match through injury. The biggest question mark for Antonio Conte's men revolves around who will partner Mirko Vucinic up front, with Marco Borriello and Alessandro Matri in contention to lead the front-line.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Cagliari have just one win in their last six matches, a 3-0 drubbing of Catania at home. During that span, the side have lost three times and acquired just five points. 
  • Pinilla, Cagliari's top scorer this season, has scored 10 goals this season, as many as Juventus' Alessandro Matri, AC Milan's Antonio Nocerino, and Bologna's Marco Di Vaio.
  • The home side have had trouble netting this season; only four sides have notched fewer than Rossoblu's 44 strikes in 36 matches.
  • Juventus can stretch their remarkable unbeaten run to 37 games this season should they avoid defeat against Cagliari.
  • No side in Serie A has conceded fewer than the visitor's 8 goals during their travels this season.
  • Juve are also tied for third most prolific team on the road in the current league campaign, having scored 26 goals in 18 away matches.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ May 12, 2013 Juventus 1 - Cagliari 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Dec 22, 2012 Cagliari 1 - Juventus 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Coppa Italia ‎(ITAC)‎ Dec 13, 2012 Juventus 1 - Cagliari 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ May 7, 2012 Cagliari 0 - Juventus 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Italy - Serie A ‎(ITA1)‎ Jan 15, 2012 Juventus 1 - Cagliari 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Cagliari
May 20, 2013Cagliari 1 - Lazio 0ITA1
May 12, 2013Juventus 1 - Cagliari 1ITA1
May 9, 2013Cagliari 0 - Parma 1ITA1
May 5, 2013Chievo 0 - Cagliari 0ITA1
Apr 28, 2013Cagliari 0 - Udinese 1ITA1
Juventus
May 19, 2013Sampdoria 3 - Juventus 2ITA1
May 12, 2013Juventus 1 - Cagliari 1ITA1
May 9, 2013Atalanta 0 - Juventus 1ITA1
May 5, 2013Juventus 1 - Palermo 0ITA1
Apr 28, 2013Torino 0 - Juventus 2ITA1
Odds
Returns: Cagliari 128.00 188bet Make a deposit now and earn up to SGD 388 bonus from 188BET!
Returns: Draw 62.00 188bet Make a deposit now and earn up to SGD 388 bonus from 188BET!
Returns: Juventus 12.86 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Team News
Available Squads
1Michael AgazziGoalkeeper
3Lorenzo AriaudoDefender
13Davide AstoriDefender
14Francesco PisanoDefender
-Michele CaniniDefender
4Radja NainggolanMidfielder
5Daniele ContiMidfielder
20Albin EkdalMidfielder
19Thiago RibeiroStriker
23Víctor IbarboStriker
51Mauricio PinillaStriker
25Vlada AvramovGoalkeeper
24Gabriele PericoDefender
13Simone GozziDefender
7Andrea CossuMidfielder
21Daniele DessenaMidfielder
-Nicolas BoviMidfielder
-Joaquin LarriveyStriker
18NenêStriker
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
29 7
Antonio Di Natale Antonio Di Natale
Striker
Udinese
23 4
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Striker
Roma
16 2
Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy
Midfielder
Milan
16 0
Germán Denis Germán Denis
Striker
Atalanta
15 5