Napoli-Cagliari is a match valid for the sixteenth day of Serie A and is played on Saturday at 6 p.m.: odds, predictions, TV, streaming.
The narrow defeat at the Stadium against Juventus was inevitably a blow to Napoli’s Scudetto ambitions, which at this point is unlikely to repeat last season’s triumph.
The dominance of the game was not enough for Walter Mazzarri’s team to unhinge the Bianconeri defense. And at the beginning of the second half it was a defender, Federico Gatti, who chastised the Azzurri (1-0) by taking advantage of a carelessness of the Azzurri rearguard. The fact is that in Turin came the second defeat in a row in the league for the partenopei, the third of Mazzarri’s management – Napoli had also lost in Madrid against Real in the Champions League – who just returned to the slopes of Vesuvius and had to deal with a truly prohibitive calendar. Beatings with Inter and Juve relegated the Italian champions to sixth place in the standings, -14 from the top and with one point to make up on fourth place, currently occupied by Roma and Bologna. Mazzarri returned to smiles in the week thanks to a success over Portuguese side Braga (2-0), gifting himself the round of 16 of the cup with big ears. Getting back to scoring points in the league now becomes the priority, and Napoli will have to ask the way of one of its former coaches, Claudio Ranieri, fresh off a heart-stopping victory over Sassuolo (2-1).
Cagliari, on Monday, seemed destined for another defeat but in full recovery managed to overturn the Emiliani thanks to goals from strikers Lapadula and Pavoletti, the latter now accustomed to scoring heavy goals in the final stages of matches. Three points that are a breath of fresh air for the Sardinians, who have once again left the relegation zone.
Napoli-Cagliari: the latest lineup news
Mazzarri must do without the disqualified Cajuste and the injured Mario Rui and Olivera. The Tuscan coach will restart with the trident formed by Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, confirmed instead Natan on the left defensive out after the excellent performance against Braga.
(Pavoletti IlVeggente.it (Ansa)
On the other hand, Ranieri could start the two heroes of Monday’s game, Lapadula and Pavoletti, from the bench, using them as weapons in the running game. From 1′ in fact, it will be Oristanio and Luvumbo’s turn. Important is the return to the midfield of the Congolese Makoumbou.
The Prediction
Against Braga, Napoli showed that they have what it takes to get going again: important as well, for Osimhen and his teammates, to have unblocked themselves in front of their own public, where the Azzurri had not won even since the end of September. Cagliari on the road barely collected two points and will hardly be able to avoid defeat against Mazzarri’s team, which is called upon to recover positions especially in view of fourth place. However, it cannot be ruled out that the Sardinians will also find the way of the goal: Napoli’s last clean sheet in the league dates back to the derby with Salernitana last November.
The probable formations of Napoli-Cagliari
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Natan; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
CAGLIARI (4-3-1-2): Scuffet; Nandez, Goldaniga, Dossena, Augello; Makoumbou, Prati, Jankto; Viola; Oristanio, Luvumbo.