Cagliari vs Bologna Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
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When is Cagliari vs Bologna on and what time does it start? Cagliari vs Bologna will take place on Sunday 14th January, 2024 – 14:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Cagliari vs Bologna? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Cagliari vs Bologna on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Cagliari vs Bologna
Where can I stream Cagliari vs Bologna in the UK? If Cagliari vs Bologna is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
CAGLIARI
Following promotion last season, Cagliari really struggled with no wins in their opening 11 matches but the Sardinians have really grown into the campaign and they have given themselves a real chance of survival. They begin the match day sitting just outside of the bottom three and the relegation places.
The home team come into this one on the back of back-to-back draws either side of the New Year, which followed on from back-to-back defeats. Their most recent outing saw them share a 1-1 draw with Lecce last weekend, which had followed on from being thrashed 4-1 by AC Milan in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia.
BOLOGNA
Under the management of former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan central midfielder, Thiago Motta, Bologna have been extremely impressive so far this season and they are very much in the hunt for a top four finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification. They sit a point behind Fiorentina, who occupy fourth spot ahead of this match day.
The visitors come into this on the back of a slight dip in form, though, with their most recent outing seeing them beaten on penalties by the aforementioned Fiorentina in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. That midweek loss followed on from a frustrating draw at home to Genoa, which followed a 3-0 hammering at the hands of struggling Udinese.
THE TEAM NEWS
CAGLIARI
Cagliari are missing several key players for this weekend’s visit of Bologna with attacking duo Gianluca Lapadula and Eldor Shomurodov out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-1-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Goldaniga, Dossena, Augello; Nandez, Prati, Makoumbou, Oristanio; Nicolas Viola; Petagna
UNAVAILABLE: Luvumbo (Suspended), Lapadula (Injured), Shomurodov (Injured), Rog (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Jankto (Injured)
BOLOGNA
Key forward Joshua Zirkzee is out suspended for this weekend, whilst Dan Ndoye and Jesper Karlsson are both missing due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Posch, Lucumi, Calafiori, Lykogiannis; Moro, Freuler; Orsolini, Fabbian, Urbanski; Van Hooijdonk
UNAVAILABLE: Zirkzee (Suspended), Ndoye (Injured), Karlsson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Soumaoro (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
As mentioned, there has been a mini dip in form from Bologna with just one goal scored in their last three matches and goal scoring has been a bit of an issue throughout the campaign. Despite challenging for the top four, they have notched just 22 times in their 19 matches and they will now be without key attacker Joshua Zirkzee, who is unavailable through suspension. Cagliari, as is expected under Claudio Ranieri, have scored fewer than a goal per game and, as a result, regardless of the match result, a fairly frustrating watch for the neutral is to be expected.
TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS
