Sassuolo-Cagliari is a match valid for the thirty-seventh day of Serie A and is played on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.: odds, predictions, live TV and streaming.
Victory over Italian champions Inter, who showed up at the Mapei Stadium in flip-flops, should almost have served as a springboard for a Sassuolo side that, for the first time since it set foot in Serie A, is in serious danger of relegation. The Emilians, in fact, last Sunday got their comeback by Genoa at Marassi (2-1), with a decisive own goal by former Roma defender Kumbulla in the second half.
Defeat that puts Davide Ballardini’s team one step away from the abyss: with two rounds to go, the neroverde formation occupies the second-last place in the standings, is in the middle of the relegation zone and has to recover three points over the fourth-last. The situation, in short, is quite dramatic, and a knockout – even a draw, in fact, would serve little purpose – in the direct clash with Cagliari would be detrimental. The Sardinians, still too close to the red zone, are not quiet either. In the last five days Claudio Ranieri’s men have collected only three draws and a week ago they were literally blown away by Milan at the San Siro (5-1). An unsatisfactory roster and one that prevents the Rossoblù from moving away from third-last place, currently just one point away.
Sassuolo-Cagliari: the latest lineup news
Ballardini must do without the long-suffering Berardi but also the injured Castillejo and Defrel. A defense made up of as many as five men is likely, with Toljan and Doig on the outside lanes, while in midfield on the sides of director Obiang will play Boloca and Thorstvedt. In attack, however, it will be Laurienté and Pinamonti’s turn.
Two very important returns for Ranieri, who rejoins Augello and Gaetano, both absent in Milan due to disqualification but unlikely to recover Makoumbou. In the median with Deiola will be Sulemana.
The prediction
There is an air of playoff at the Mapei Stadium, although the one who absolutely must win is Sassuolo: only the three points could allow the neroverdi to continue believing in salvation. Conversely, Cagliari would also be happy to leave Reggio Emilia even with a draw, waiting for good news from the other fields. For this reason, we assume a deadlocked match, from less than four goals in total and in which the Sardinians will most likely manage to avoid at least defeat.
The probable formations of Sassuolo-Cagliari
SASSUOLO (5-3-2): Consigli; Toljan, Erlic, Kumbulla, Ferrari, Doig; Boloca, Obiang, Thorstvedt; Laurienté, Pinamonti.
CAGLIARI (4-2-3-1): Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Dossena, Augello; Sulemana, Deiola; Nandez, Gaetano, Luvumbo; Shomurodov.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
