Preview: Cagliari vs. Genoa - prediction, team news, lineups

Cagliari and Genoa will both go in search of their first league wins of the season when they meet in Serie A on Sunday.

The hosts have taken one point from their opening two games and sit 14th, while the visitors are yet to get off the mark and are 19th.

Match preview

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Cagliari only survived relegation by four points last season, largely thanks to the appointment of Leonardo Semplici in February who turned the club's fortunes around.

Supporters are hopeful that Casteddu can kick on in Semplici's first full season in charge, but it has been a tricky start to the campaign.

After fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Spezia on the opening weekend, Cagliari were beaten 4-1 by AC Milan a fortnight ago.

The Sardinian outfit will be desperate to get three points on the board at the third attempt, particularly as they travel to early league leaders Lazio next weekend.

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However, Genoa have won 1-0 in each of the last three meetings between the two sides.

Il Grifone could not have asked for a much tougher start to the new season, as they were thrashed 4-0 by reigning champions Inter Milan on the opening weekend before losing 2-1 to Napoli two weeks ago.

The Liguria outfit nearly took a point against Gli Azzurri before conceding in the 84th minute, while Goran Pandev also had a goal harshly ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Manager Davide Ballardini is in his fourth spell in charge of Genoa and took them to 11th place last season, their highest finish in five years. The 57-year-old has also had three previous spells in charge of Cagliari.

No Serie A side scored fewer goals away from home last season than Genoa (18), so Ballardini will hope that the deadline day arrival of Felipe Caicedo from Lazio will help in that department.

Team News

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Cagliari boosted their attacking options by signing Keita Balde from Monaco on deadline day, with the Senegalese international set to partner captain Joao Pedro upfront.

There are doubts over the fitness of defenders Luca Ceppitelli and Diego Godin, the latter of whom picked up an injury on international duty with Uruguay, which should pave the way for Martin Caceres to make his debut in the backline.

Goalkeeper Alessio Cragno missed the defeat to AC Milan with a hamstring injury, but returned to training on Thursday so could feature.

Genoa could hand debuts to a quartet of deadline day signings – Felipe Caicedo, Abdoulaye Toure, Mohamed Fares and Nikola Maksimovic.

Fellow new arrival Pablo Galdames has been on international duty with Chile and will not return to Italy until Saturday morning, meaning he is unlikely to play.

Midfielder Francesco Cassata is a long-term absentee for Il Grifone, having undergone a knee operation at the end of August.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Zappa, Caceres, Carboni; Nandez, Marin, Strootman, Deiola, Dalbert; Pedro, Balde

Genoa possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Vanheusden, Maksimovic, Criscito; Ghiglione, Toure, Badelj, Hernani, Fares; Pandev, Caicedo

We say: Cagliari 1-2 Genoa

Both sides should be reinvigorated by a flurry of new faces in the last few days of the transfer window, meaning a tight game is in store. Genoa were unlucky to lose to Napoli last time out and we think the visitors will get their first points on the board in Sardinia.