MX23RW : Friday, October 23 15:16:04| >> :120:18332:18332:
Jul 29, 2020 at 8.45pm UK at Sardegna Arena
CagliariCagliari
2-0
JuventusJuventus
Gagliano (8'), Simeone (45+2')
Rog (17'), Pedro (65')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Pjanic (25'), de Ligt (25')

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

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Serie A clash between Cagliari and champions Juventus, including team news and predicted lineups.

Juventus are in action for the first time since being crowned Serie A champions as they travel to Cagliari in their final away match of the season.

The Bianconeri won a ninth successive Scudetto with a 2-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday and will now be looking to keep their momentum going against bottom-half opponents Cagliari.


Match preview

Juventus attacker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Sampdoria on July 26, 2020© Reuters

After suffering a shock 2-1 loss to lowly Udinese, Juve got the job done at the second time of asking by seeing off Sampdoria with a comfortable victory on home soil.

Cristiano Ronaldo notched his 31st league goal of the season in his 32nd appearance and Federico Bernardeschi added a second to make sure of the title-clinching triumph.

A month on from Bayern Munich matching their record of eight straight title wins, Juve went one better by topping the pile once again in Italy's top flight.

Maurizio Sarri's first season at the Allianz Stadium has not quite been plain sailing, with the side having been given a scare at various points by Inter Milan, Lazio and Atalanta BC.

Sunday's win was also only Juve's second in six matches after dropping points against AC Milan, Atalanta, Sassuolo and Udinese this month.

Cagliari boss Walter Zenga pictured in April 2018© Reuters

Ultimately it is job done for Sarri, although the Italian will know that this season can only be considered a real success if his side win the Champions League.

The Bianconeri trail Lyon 1-0 ahead of next month's rearranged last-16 second leg, with focus now very much on that game.

Cagliari's players can be forgiven for thinking about their shortened summer breaks, meanwhile, given that they are 14th in the table and have little to play for on the face of it.

Walter Zenga's side have dropped off massively since picking up back-to-back wins over SPAL and Torino at the end of last month, failing to win any of their eight matches since.

That includes successive losses to Lazio and Udinese in their last two games - Stefano Okaka's early strike proving the difference in the second of those matches.

Cagliari can still finish as high as eighth should results go their way over the coming days but, with Juve and Milan to face, a bottom-half finish is the more likely outcome.

Cagliari's Serie A form: DDLDLL

Juventus' Serie A form: LDDWLW


Team News

Paulo Dybala celebrates scoring for Juventus on March 8, 2020© Reuters

Douglas Costa is facing another spell on the sidelines for Juve after picking up an injury in training.

The Brazil international is one of a number of players ruled out for the visitors, along with Giorgio Chiellini, Mattia De Sciglio and Sami Khedira.

Sarri will want to keep his players fresh for the Lyon tie, so Gianluigi Buffon is in line to replace Wojciech Szczesny in goal.

Paulo Dybala and Danilo went off injured in the first half against Sampdoria, meanwhile, opening the door for Bernardeschi and Juan Cuadrado to return to the starting XI.

As for Cagliari, Nahitan Nandez will serve a one-match ban after picking up another booking at the weekend.

Marko Rog is the favourite to partner Artur Ionita and Valter Birsa in a tweaked midfield, assuming that the hosts go with a 3-5-2 again.

Up top, Giovanni Simeone and Joao Pedro look certain to retain their places, with Charalampos Lykogiannis providing support from wide.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Pisacane, Ceppitelli, Walukiewicz; Mattiello, Birsa, Ionita, Rog, Lykogiannis; Simeone, Pedro

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Buffon; Cuadrado, Rugani, Demiral, Alex Sandro; Matuidi, Pjanic, Ramsey; Bernardeschi, Higuain, Ronaldo


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We say: Cagliari 0-2 Juventus

Juventus have failed to win any of their last three away matches, but they are taking on a side with just one win in their last 10 home games. Indeed, Cagliari cannot seem to pick up a victory of any sort at the moment, so we are backing Juve to claim all three points and build some momentum ahead of the Champions League restart.


ID:408163:cQx

Who will win Wednesday's Serie A clash between Cagliari and Juventus?

Cagliari
Draw
Juventus
Cagliari
11.6%
Draw
6.7%
Juventus
81.7%
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Bologna's defender from Morocco Adam Masina (L) jumps for the ball with Napoli's defender from Spain Raul Albiol during the Italian Serie A football match Carpi vs AC Milan at the Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna on December 6, 2015.
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