Serie A Preview: Juventus - Cagliari
What: Serie A week 21
Who: Juventus v Cagliari
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
When: Sunday February 3rd 15:00 CET
Juventus Looking For
Points
Claudio Ranieri’s men welcome Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico for this important week 21 fixture. The game will be an excellent opportunity for the Bianconeri to take advantage of the Rossoblu’s dire season. The Sardinian side have only picked up three points since September.
Juventus have not had a good month since returning from the winter break. With two draws and a win in their last three league games. Last Sunday the Bianconeri showed that they still are a side capable of bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Livorno. Trezeguet scored a contender for goal of the season in this game and no doubt he will be looking to do the same against a weak Cagliari defence. The Isolani have conceded 37 and scored 15 so the Bianconeri are only too aware that this should be a straightforward three points.
The Old Lady have to win against Cagliari if they are to stay in touch with Roma as well as stop Fiorentina, Milan and Udinese from breathing down their necks.
Juventus will be without several key players for the game, Cristiano Zanetti, Vincenzo Iaquinta and new signing Gugliermo Stendardo are all banned through suspension. Juve will have to rely on top scorer David Trezeguet to fire them through to victory.
The Champions League qualification is a top priority on Ranieri’s list and he knows that if he fails the pressure will begin to increase and his time with Juventus will look likely to decrease. This is a must win game for the Bianconeri, Trezeguet’s goals alone are more than Cagliari’s combined goals scored for this season. So in theory this should be a formality for the Bianconeri.
Cagliari looking to continue from last week
Davide Ballardini’s side picked up their first win since September last week so confidence in the camp is on the up. The Isolani beat an elegant Napoli side in the last two minutes of the game. Cagliari were 1-0 down and managed to turn the game on its head with two very late goals. This shows that the Isolani are a side who believe and are motivated in climbing out from the relegation Zone.
The last time Cagliari played Juventus it ended 3-2 in favour of the Bianconeri. It was a highly entertaining game in the Sardinian capital and Cagliari felt they deserved more from the game at Sant’Elia. Last season the sides did not play at the Olimpico as a result of Juve’s Calciopoli punishment but Cagliari have conceded four goals in their last two trips to Turin pre Calciopoly.
The Isolani have the worst defensive record and their attacking department seems like it’s struggling to score on all fronts. Juve meanwhile have one of the best defences in Serie A and so it looks like it’s going to be a hard afternoon for the Sardinian side in Turin.
Form Guide
Juventus
30/01 (Coppa Italia) Juventus 2-3 Inter
27/01 (Serie A) Livorno 1-3 Juventus
20/01 (Serie A) Juventus 0-0 Sampdoria
15/12 (Coppa Italia) Juventus 5-3 Empoli
12/01 (Serie A) Catania 1-1 Juventus
Cagliari
27/01 (Serie A) Cagliari 2-1 Napoli
20/01 (Serie A): Reggina-Cagliari 2-0
16/01 (Coppa Italia): Sampdoria-Cagliari 4-0
13/01 (Serie A): Cagliari-Udinese 0-1
23/12 (Serie A): Fiorentina-Cagliari 5-1
Team News
Juventus: Both Chiellini and Andrade are still out with injury. Zanetti, Iaquinta and Stendardo are suspended. Belardi is likely to keep his place between the posts as Gigi Buffon still has back problems.
Cagliari: Davide Biondini is suspended for Cagliari, otherwise the coach has a full squad to choose from.
Players To Watch
Alessandro Del Piero - The Juventus legend has been in fine form of late. Pinturcchio is definitely the man to watch. He is unpredicatble and his football genius is the key to Juve’s fortunes.
Alessandro Matri - He caused a Neapolitan upset last week and he will be looking to frustrate the Old Lady this time around.
Probable Formations:
Juventus: Belardi; Birindelli, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Molinaro; Palladino, Nocerino, Salihamidzic, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
Cagliari: Storari; Ferri, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini; Conti, Parola; Foggia, Jeda, Fini; Matri
Prediction
Business as usual for Juventus.
Juventus 3-0 Cagliari
goal.com
What: Serie A week 21
Who: Juventus v Cagliari
Where: Stadio Olimpico, Turin
When: Sunday February 3rd 15:00 CET
Juventus Looking For
Points
Claudio Ranieri’s men welcome Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico for this important week 21 fixture. The game will be an excellent opportunity for the Bianconeri to take advantage of the Rossoblu’s dire season. The Sardinian side have only picked up three points since September.
Juventus have not had a good month since returning from the winter break. With two draws and a win in their last three league games. Last Sunday the Bianconeri showed that they still are a side capable of bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Livorno. Trezeguet scored a contender for goal of the season in this game and no doubt he will be looking to do the same against a weak Cagliari defence. The Isolani have conceded 37 and scored 15 so the Bianconeri are only too aware that this should be a straightforward three points.
The Old Lady have to win against Cagliari if they are to stay in touch with Roma as well as stop Fiorentina, Milan and Udinese from breathing down their necks.
Juventus will be without several key players for the game, Cristiano Zanetti, Vincenzo Iaquinta and new signing Gugliermo Stendardo are all banned through suspension. Juve will have to rely on top scorer David Trezeguet to fire them through to victory.
The Champions League qualification is a top priority on Ranieri’s list and he knows that if he fails the pressure will begin to increase and his time with Juventus will look likely to decrease. This is a must win game for the Bianconeri, Trezeguet’s goals alone are more than Cagliari’s combined goals scored for this season. So in theory this should be a formality for the Bianconeri.
Cagliari looking to continue from last week
Davide Ballardini’s side picked up their first win since September last week so confidence in the camp is on the up. The Isolani beat an elegant Napoli side in the last two minutes of the game. Cagliari were 1-0 down and managed to turn the game on its head with two very late goals. This shows that the Isolani are a side who believe and are motivated in climbing out from the relegation Zone.
The last time Cagliari played Juventus it ended 3-2 in favour of the Bianconeri. It was a highly entertaining game in the Sardinian capital and Cagliari felt they deserved more from the game at Sant’Elia. Last season the sides did not play at the Olimpico as a result of Juve’s Calciopoli punishment but Cagliari have conceded four goals in their last two trips to Turin pre Calciopoly.
The Isolani have the worst defensive record and their attacking department seems like it’s struggling to score on all fronts. Juve meanwhile have one of the best defences in Serie A and so it looks like it’s going to be a hard afternoon for the Sardinian side in Turin.
Form Guide
Juventus
30/01 (Coppa Italia) Juventus 2-3 Inter
27/01 (Serie A) Livorno 1-3 Juventus
20/01 (Serie A) Juventus 0-0 Sampdoria
15/12 (Coppa Italia) Juventus 5-3 Empoli
12/01 (Serie A) Catania 1-1 Juventus
Cagliari
27/01 (Serie A) Cagliari 2-1 Napoli
20/01 (Serie A): Reggina-Cagliari 2-0
16/01 (Coppa Italia): Sampdoria-Cagliari 4-0
13/01 (Serie A): Cagliari-Udinese 0-1
23/12 (Serie A): Fiorentina-Cagliari 5-1
Team News
Juventus: Both Chiellini and Andrade are still out with injury. Zanetti, Iaquinta and Stendardo are suspended. Belardi is likely to keep his place between the posts as Gigi Buffon still has back problems.
Cagliari: Davide Biondini is suspended for Cagliari, otherwise the coach has a full squad to choose from.
Players To Watch
Alessandro Del Piero - The Juventus legend has been in fine form of late. Pinturcchio is definitely the man to watch. He is unpredicatble and his football genius is the key to Juve’s fortunes.
Alessandro Matri - He caused a Neapolitan upset last week and he will be looking to frustrate the Old Lady this time around.
Probable Formations:
Juventus: Belardi; Birindelli, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Molinaro; Palladino, Nocerino, Salihamidzic, Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
Cagliari: Storari; Ferri, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini; Conti, Parola; Foggia, Jeda, Fini; Matri
Prediction
Business as usual for Juventus.
Juventus 3-0 Cagliari
goal.com
