Best odds: 5/2
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In their Serie A matchup on Friday evening, struggling Cagliari are set to face Torino, with the potential for a victory to lift the Sardinian side four points clear of the relegation zone.
After their recent loss to Frosinone, Claudio Ranieri s team currently occupy the 17th position in the standings. On the other hand, Torino, positioned in the middle of the table, enter the match unbeaten since the turn of the year.
Cagliari
After the recent passing of Cagliari legend Gigi Riva, the Rossoblu will pay tribute to one of Italy s greatest players on Friday as they aim to strengthen their position in the Serie A survival race.
Riva played a crucial role in Cagliari s historic Scudetto win in 1970, marking the first time a club south of Rome had claimed the league title. While this season s squad has more modest ambitions, paying homage to Riva s legacy adds a different kind of significance to their efforts.
Cagliari, currently just outside the relegation places, have garnered 18 points from 21 matches since gaining promotion. Their objective is to keep their Serie A status, and despite the recent defeat, finishing in their present position would be considered a success.
In their last outing, Claudio Ranieri s team fell short of replicating the last-gasp heroics seen in their earlier victory over Frosinone. They suffered a 3-1 loss to their fellow promoted club, ending a three-match unbeaten streak. Returning to home turf, where they have earned the majority of their points, Cagliari will be determined to bounce back. Notably, a goalless draw in the reverse fixture against Torino earlier in the season was one of the few away trips that did not end in defeat for Cagliari, and that should also bring hope to the home supporters.
Team News
Ranieri s Cagliari squad, while having depth in attacking areas, will be without several forwards for Friday s game. Gaetano Oristanio and Eldor Shomurodov are both sidelined due to injuries, and Zito Luvumbo is representing Angola at the Africa Cup of Nations. Although striker Gianluca Lapadula has recently returned to action and might be considered for a starting role, midfielders Marko Rog and Marco Mancosu remain unavailable.
The hosts will look to Polish center-back Mateusz Wieteska, who suffered a mouth injury in the previous match against Frosinone, and hope he can start. In the event that he s unable to play, Edoardo Goldaniga is prepared to step in as a replacement in the defence.
Torino
Torino earned a 0-0 draw in their match against Genoa at Stadio Luigi Ferraris last week, following an impressive start to 2024 under Croatian coach Ivan Juric. Despite a spectacular victory over last season s champions in their first home fixture of the new year a convincing 3-0 win against Napoli in Turin, being held goalless by his former club Genoa was somewhat frustrating for Juric and his team.
Currently occupying the 10th spot in the Serie A table, a victory on Friday would bring Torino level with ninth-placed Napoli, just two points behind the European places.
Torino aim to end a five-match winless streak away from home, during which they failed to score in four matches. Their last away win was in October against Lecce, and facing Cagliari, a challenging opponent at home, presents another tough contest.
For Juric s team to stay in the race for a top-six finish, they need to start overcoming such challenges, particularly in away fixtures where they have struggled to secure victories recently. The upcoming match against Cagliari will be crucial in that aspect, for their aspirations in the Serie A standings.
Team News
After a brief period of rest, Torino are expected to have an almost fully-fit squad available for the upcoming match against Cagliari. The only confirmed absentee for the visitors is Perr Schuurs, who is sidelined with an ACL injury and will be out for the rest of the season.
Demba Seck has joined Frosinone on loan, but apart from these cases, Juric may have the luxury of naming an unchanged starting XI for the upcoming clash.
Conclusion
Ranieri has an impressive record against Torino, having lost just four of his 18 previous matches against the Turin club, and notably, none since 1995.
Cagliari, under Ranieri s guidance, could capitalize on Torino s recent lack of potency, which has cost them in multiple instances. And given Torino s struggles, Cagliari have shown more goal-scoring prowess in Serie A, making them a formidable force on their home turf in Sardinia.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 5/2
Bookmaker:
