Prediction: Cagliari vs Juventus

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 13/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Cagliari aim to maintain their positive momentum in Serie A as they face Juventus at the Unipol Domus on Friday.

Under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri, Cagliari secured a commendable 2-2 draw against champions-elect Inter Milan in their previous outing. Prior to that, they recorded a notable 2-1 victory over Atalanta. Buoyed by these performances, they are optimistic about their chances of causing an upset against Juventus in gameweek 33.

Cagliari

Friday’s clash between Ranieri’s Cagliari and Juventus takes place in Sardinia, where the hosts are eager to continue their recent streak that has helped them create some breathing space in the relegation battle.

Cagliari’s resilience has been key to their recent success, as evidenced by their ability to bounce back from setbacks in their last three matches. Despite a 1-0 loss to Monza in mid-March, they managed to secure a point after falling behind against Hellas Verona, turned around an early deficit to defeat Atalanta 2-1, and twice came from behind to earn a draw against league leaders Inter in gameweek 32.

This positive run has put them in a favorable position as they aim to avoid relegation to Serie B. They currently hold a four-point advantage over 18th-placed Frosinone, ensuring they cannot drop into the bottom three even with a defeat on Friday.

Ranieri will be looking for another strong performance from his side at the Unipol Domus, where they have remained unbeaten in their last four matches, securing eight points from a possible 12.

Team News

Ranieri could face challenges due to the absence of several key players, including Gaetano Oristanio, Andrea Petagna, Marco Mancosu, and Leonardo Pavoletti, who are all expected to miss the match due to injury.

In their absence, Ranieri may turn to Nicolas Viola, who has proven to be a valuable asset off the bench in recent matches. Viola’s ability to contribute goals could provide Cagliari with an alternative attacking option if their initial plans are not yielding the desired results.

Juventus

Juventus are eyeing a sixth consecutive victory against Cagliari, but Massimiliano Allegri’s side faces a tough challenge to secure three points in Sardinia. While Allegri has remained focused on securing a Champions League place rather than contending for the Scudetto at this point, Juventus’s inconsistent performances since the start of the year have raised concerns.

With only two wins from their last 11 matches, Juventus have suffered consequences in the table, sitting third behind Inter and AC Milan,  and the second-place Rossoneri now hold a six-point advantage over them. However, with Italy likely to secure an additional Champions League spot, Juventus’s chances of missing out are slim unless they experience a significant collapse and other teams capitalize on it.

Despite their recent struggles, Juventus remain a formidable opponent, but their away form has been concerning, with three losses in their last five away matches since January. As they face an in-form Cagliari side, Allegri’s men will need to put in a strong performance to end their winless run on the road.

Team News

Paul Pogba remains suspended due to a doping ban, while Nicolo Fagioli is also unavailable due to a violation of betting rules. Moise Kean and Arkadiusz Milik are both uncertain for Friday’s match, with Milik expected to be on the bench if necessary.

Despite a reportedly complicated relationship with Allegri, having been frustrated to come off in last weekend’s Turin derby, Federico Chiesa is likely to start in Sardinia.

Conclusion

Given Cagliari’s recent resilience and Juventus’ inconsistency, a share of the spoils for both teams wouldn’t be surprising in Friday’s match. The home side may view it as a point gained, especially considering their historical struggles against this particular opponent.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 13/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet