Cagliari vs Fiorentina Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
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This is a bizarre situation with Cagliari finishing their season a few days earlier than everybody else down at the bottom and if they lose they will have to hold their breath with relegation still possible.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 22nd May, 2024 - UK – 19:45 / US EST – 14:45 / US PST – 12:45
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK. / This match will not be televised live in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match can be streamed live via the TNT Sports app in the UK. / This match can be streamed live via Paramount+ in the US.
CAGLIARI PREVIEW: A POINT TO SURVIVE
Last season, Cagliari gained promotion to the top-flight after winning the Serie B playoff final against Bari. For the Sardinians, therefore, to be sitting clear of the drop zone with a game to go is definitely a success under the management of former Leicester City and Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, but they are not quite safe.
A point would be enough to ensure they can watch the final day for the rest of the league with a bit of peace. They managed a vital 2-0 defeat of Sassuolo to relegate Sassuolo last weekend with Gianluca Lapadula’s 91st minute penalty secured all three points. That victory ended a five-match winless run of form for Cagliari.
FIORENTINA PREVIEW: EUROPEAN DISTRACTIONS
Next week, Fiorentina will travel to Athens to face Olympiakos in their second successive UEFA Europa Conference League final. Domestically, though, there is still something to play for for Vincenzo Italiano’s I Viola as they sit tucked inside the top eight ahead of this weekend and will be looking to hold off both Torino and Napoli to guarantee European qualification.
Defeating Olympiakos will mean they head into the UEFA Europa League anyway but another European final loss will mean their league position becomes very important as the top eight is enough for European qualification this time around. Their 2-2 draw with Napoli last weekend means they have now suffered just two defeats in their last 13 matches across all competitions.
CAGLIARI TEAM NEWS: JANKTO & MAKOUMBOU OUT
Cagliari still have a couple of injury concerns for the final day visit of Fiorentina with both of those concerns coming in midfield. Czech international Jakub Jankto remains unavailable alongside Antoine Makoumbou.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Yerry Mina, Dossena, Augello; Sulemana, Deiola; Nahitan Nandez, Shomurodov, Gaetano; Lapadula
UNAVAILABLE: Jankto (Injured), Makoumbou (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
FIORENTINA TEAM NEWS: SOTTIL MISSING
Ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League final next week, Fiorentina have only one injury concern for this clash in Sardinia as Italian striker Riccardo Sottil remains absent with a shoulder issue.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Dodo, Martinez Quarta, Milenkovic, Biraghi; Arthur, Bonaventura; Gonzalez, Beltran, Kouame; Nzola
UNAVAILABLE: Sottil (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CAGLIARI VS FIORENTINA PREDICTION
As a result of Fiorentina having two games left this season, they will get a second bite at the cherry to ensure a top eight finish with a victory against Atalanta early next month. For now, though, their focus will be on ensuring players do not leave Sardinia injured ahead of next week’s final against Olympiakos. Cagliari will therefore sense a major opportunity to guarantee their Serie A status for next season so, as a result, backing the hosts looks the way to go for this one.
CAGLIARI VS FIORENTINA TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – CAGLIARI TO WIN OR DRAW
