Lecce vs Cagliari Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
It has been a really tricky start to the campaign with Lecce having yet to score and conceded six in their opening two matches but it is now a step down in quality as they welcome Cagliari down to Apulia this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 31st August, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
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+
LECCE PREVIEW: STRUGGLING AND ADJUSTING
Under the management of Luca Gotti, following Roberto D’Aversa’s sacking during the March international break, I Giallorossi managed to push themselves clear of the bottom three and the relegation places with a late spurt to the finish line. This time around, the Apulia-based club look set for yet another battle against the drop.
The home team began their season with a slender 2-1 defeat of Mantova in the first round of the Coppa Italia but were then thrashed 4-0 at home by Atalanta before going to San Siro to face defending champions Internazionale. They were stubborn for large parts but eventually succumbed to a 2-0 loss to the Nerazzurri.
CAGLIARI PREVIEW: SARDINIAN SOLIDITY
Cagliari said goodbye to Claudio Ranieri last season as he retired with the club he began his managerial career with after managing to take them up and then keep them in the top-flight. The Sardinians are likely to be involved in another relegation battle but have hired the mastermind of three great escapes from relegation in Davide Nicola for this season.
They have started the 2024/25 Serie A season with back-to-back draws following a 3-1 defeat of Carrarese in the Coppa Italia. On the opening day of the campaign they earned a creditable goalless draw against Roma before then welcoming newly-promoted Como and being frustrated by being held to a 1-1 scoreline.
LECCE TEAM NEWS: KABA OUT
At the start of this season, Lecce were missing a few key defenders for this weekend, such as Kastriot Dermaku, and they will now have to replace right-back Valentin Gendrey, who has left the club for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim with new signing Frederic Guilbert potentially debuting.
There is still one injury issue for the southerners this weekend with midfielder Mohamed Kaba unavailable for this one after suffering an ACL injury before the season.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Dorgu, Rafia, Banda; Krstovic
UNAVAILABLE: Kaba (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CAGLIARI TEAM NEWS: ZORTEA EASING HIS WAY BACK
Cagliari have been financially challenged this summer so haven’t been able to bring in too many players but one of their new arrivals, Nadir Zortea, is nearing a return from injury.
Bar that, Davide Nicola has no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues so will be able to stick with implementing his quite reactive and defensive style of football.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Scuffet; Zappa, Yerry Mina, Luperto; Azzi, Deiola, Prati, Marin, Augello; Luvumbo, Piccoli
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Zortea (Injured)
LECCE VS CAGLIARI PREDICTION
The home team are expected to struggle throughout this campaign but there were signs of improvement against Inter last weekend. Lecce have been low-scoring throughout Luca Gotti’s reign and they will be expected to struggle for goals this year. Cagliari will travel to the mainland playing in the exact same way Davide Nicola always has and that is to frustrate the opposition so this isn’t expected to be overly entertaining for the neutral.
LECCE VS CAGLIARI TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
