Cagliari vs Bologna Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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After struggling at the start of this season, Cagliari had managed to improve but the Sardinians now come into this one on the back off another defeat, whilst Bologna seemingly cannot stop themselves drawing in Serie A this season.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 29th October, 2024 - UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 1:30pm / US PT – 10:30am
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: STRUGGLING SARDINIANS
Cagliari begin this midweek round of fixtures sitting just a few points and a few places outside of the bottom three and the relegation places. The Sardinians, now coached by Serie A miracle worker Davide Nicola who replaced Claudio Ranieri over the summer, had collected seven points from three matches before their defeat at the weekend.
Cagliari travelled to the mainland to face Udinese up in Friuli and suffered a 2-0 defeat in that game at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine. Cagliari went down to ten men in the 29th minute due to Antoine Makoumbou receiving a red card before goals from Lorenzo Lucca and former Watford striker Keinan Davis.
BOLOGNA PREVIEW: NEEDING A WIN
Over the summer, after finishing fifth and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, Bologna lost manager Thiago Motta to Juventus with the sales of Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee to Arsenal and Manchester United respectively. His replacement, Vincenzo Italiano, has endured a bizarre start to the season.
In their opening 11 matches across all competitions so far this season, Bologna have managed just one victory. Their Serie A record has seen them win one, lose one and draw six. They were due to welcome AC Milan at the weekend but that game was postponed due to flooding in the Bologna area.
CAGLIARI TEAM NEWS: MAKOUMBOU SUSPENDED
As mentioned, defensive midfielder Antoine Makoumbou was sent off against Udinese at the weekend and that means he is suspended for this weekend’s clash with Bologna.
As well as Makoumbou, Kingstone Mutandwa is also sidelined through injury with both Jakub Jankto and Leonardo Pavoletti both close to returning from injury for this one.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Yerry Mina, Luperto; Azzi, Adopo, Marin, Augello; Viola, Gaetano; Piccoli
UNAVAILABLE: Makoumbou (Suspended), Mutandwa (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Jankto (Injured), Pavoletti (Injured)
BOLOGNA TEAM NEWS: FERGUSON EDGES CLOSER
Scotland international Lewis Ferguson has been missing for several months due to an ACL injury but he is inching himself closer to full fitness and a return this weekend.
Oussama El Azzouzi is also a doubt for this weekend with Croatia international defender Martin Erlic and Switzerland international midfielder Michel Aebischer both unavailable, too.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Posch, Beukema, Casale, Juan Miranda; Moro, Freuler; Orsolini, Odgaard, Dominguez; Castro
UNAVAILABLE: Erlic (Injured), Aebischer (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: El Azzouzi (Injured), Ferguson (Injured)
CAGLIARI VS BOLOGNA PREDICTION
Cagliari, as mentioned, turned to Nicola to try and steer themselves away from a relegation battle this season and their form has been much-improved in the last month after supporter protest at the start of the season. Bologna have been difficult to beat and Vincenzo Italiano is trying to get his players playing a fluent style of football but the lack of precision in attack has led to too many draws and a low-scoring affair would seem quite likely for this one at the Sardegna Arena.
CAGLIARI VS BOLOGNA TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
