Cagliari vs Atalanta Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Cagliari have been struggling this season with supporter protest but begin the weekend comfortably outside of the bottom three as they now face title challenging Atalanta.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 14th December, 2024: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Cagliari Preview: No need for a great escape yet
Davide Nicola, who replaced Claudio Ranieri at Cagliari over the summer, has gained a reputation for producing great escapes with Crotone, Empoli and Salernitana. However, he has been tasked with building a side from the start this time around and they have been steady.
They are still, points-wise, hovering above the bottom three and the relegation places but have won three of their last nine games since a crisis at the start of this season. The Sardinians were most recently beaten 1-0 by Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi last weekend.
Atalanta Preview: Brilliant Bergamasci
Gian Piero Gasperini has done a brilliant job in charge of Atalanta and the Bergamasci begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting at the top-of-the-table with a 2-1 defeat of Milan at the Gewiss Stadium last week thanks to goals from Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman.
They have been relentless in the last few months since a slow-ish start to the campaign. They are the league’s top scorers, as they have been quite consistently through Gasperini’s eight-year spell in charge of Atalanta, with 38 goals scored in 15 matches.
Cagliari Team News: Couple of doubts
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Cagliari’s visit of Atalanta last weekend but they do have a couple of doubts as midfielder Nadir Zortea is potentially unavailable alongside Peru international striker Gianluca Lapadula.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sherri; Zappa, Yerry Mina, Luperto, Obert; Marin, Makoumbou; Pavoletti, Viola, Augello; Piccoli
Unavailable:
Questionable: Zortea (Injured), Gianluca Lapadula (Injured)
Atalanta Team News: Scalvini setback
Young defender Giorgio Scalvini had returned from an ACL injury but the centre-back has now suffered a slight sprain seeing him miss this weekend. He is sidelined alongside Juan Cuadrado and Gianluca Scamacca, whilst Davide Zappacosta is an injury doubt.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Unavailable: Scalvini (Injured), Juan Cuadrado (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)
Questionable: Zappacosta (Injured)
Cagliari vs Atalanta Prediction
Cagliari, despite their improvement, remain one of the weaker sides in Serie A and are expected to spend the vast majority of this season battling against the drop. They now face an Atalanta side that are hurtling towards the January winter break as potential league leaders. The visitors have beaten the best and the weakest throughout this campaign and La Dea could have a special season which should continue with a win in Sardinia this weekend.
Cagliari vs Atalanta Tip: Atalanta to win -1 handicap
