Cagliari vs Empoli Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
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When is Cagliari vs Empoli on and what time does it start? Cagliari vs Empoli will take place on Saturday 30th December, 2023 – 14:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Cagliari vs Empoli? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Cagliari vs Empoli 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 Empoli
Where can I stream Cagliari vs Empoli in the UK? If Cagliari vs Empoli is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
CAGLIARI
Following promotion to Serie A via the Serie B playoffs last season, Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari started without a victory in their opening 11 matches. The Sardinians have been much-improved over the autumn months but come into this one sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places in Italy’s top-flight.
They have suffered three defeats in their last four matches with their most recent outing being a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Hellas Verona, last weekend. Cagliari have managed to score over one goal on just one occasion in their last seven matches and may be a little distracted by their upcoming Round of 16 tie with AC Milan in the Coppa Italia.
EMPOLI
It has been a turbulent campaign for Empoli with former manager Aurelio Andreazzoli coming in to replace Paolo Zanetti earlier this season but they have remained one of the major strugglers down at the bottom end of Serie A. The Florence-based club have just three victories in their 17 matches so far this season.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat at home to an underperforming Lazio side in their most recent outing, last weekend. That means that they are now winless in their last five matches as they begin the weekend alongside Cagliari down in the bottom three and the relegation places.
THE TEAM NEWS
CAGLIARI
Cagliari have a few injury concerns for this weekend as both Marko Rog and Eldor Shomurodov are out this weekend, whilst Antoine Makoumbou out suspended.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Scuffet; Goldaniga, Dossena, Hatzidiakos; Nandez, Prati, Mancosu, Augello; Nicolas Viola; Oristanio, Pavoletti
UNAVAILABLE: Makoumbou (Suspended), Shomurodov (Injured), Rog (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
EMPOLI
Empoli’s injury concerns are pre-existing and they are defensive with both Bartosz Bereszynski and Giuseppe Pezzella both unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Caprile; Ebuehi, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Bastoni; Fazzini, Grassi, Maleh; Cancellieri, Maldini, Cambiaghi
UNAVAILABLE: Bereszynski (Injured), Guarino (Injured), Pezzella (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Their autumnal improvement has been a little undermined with a poor run of recent form for Cagliari as they drift back into the bottom three ahead of this weekend. The Sardinians have a generally defensive manager with Ranieri but only two teams have conceded more than them in Serie A so far this season. They take on the lowest scorers this weekend, though, so that major defensive concern should put to rest with Cagliari, especially at home, confident of getting the better of their opposition.
TIP: CAGLIARI TO WIN
