Bologna vs Cagliari - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to corroborate their Serie A presumption for different season, Cagliari volition sojourn mid-table Bologna for Sunday's lunchtime kickoff.

Meeting for a conflict of the Rossoblu astatine Stadio Dall'Ara, lone the visitors person overmuch to play for, arsenic their hosts person fallen acold down successful the contention for Europe.

Match preview

Having antecedently suffered continental heartbreak successful the Europa League quarter-finals, Bologna's home run has started to peter out, pursuing consecutive defeats.

In fact, Vincenzo Italiano's broadside person mislaid their past 2 Serie A matches without scoring - 2-0 distant to Juventus and at location to Roma last weekend.

Now occupying ninth spot, they are trailing seventh-placed Atalanta by six points with conscionable 4 rounds remaining and look acceptable to miss retired connected returning to UEFA competition.

Dismal location signifier has played a large relation successful their decline: including that reverse against Roma, they person mislaid nary less than 7 of 9 league fixtures played astatine the Dall’Ara this calendar year.

Another decision would spot the Emilian nine suffer 10 location matches successful a azygous Serie A run for conscionable the 2nd clip ever, highlighting the sheer extent of their woes.

At slightest caller past volition beryllium down them connected Sunday, arsenic Bologna are unbeaten successful a twelve location games against Cagliari, prevailing successful each of the past four.

After a 2-0 location decision successful October's reverse fixture, Cagliari person mislaid the past 3 meetings astatine immoderate venue by a 6-1 aggregate scoreline. 

Nonetheless, they whitethorn question to Emilia-Romagna successful amended spirits than their Rossoblu rivals, having beaten Atalanta 3-2 connected Monday.

Two quickfire goals from rookie striker Paul Mendy stunned La Dea, and adjacent aft the visitors hauled themselves level, Cagliari claimed triumph acknowledgment to Gennaro Borrelli's onslaught and immoderate crisp goalkeeping from Elia Caprile.

Taking them to the brink of safety, the Sardinian broadside person won 2 of their past 3 matches - arsenic galore wins arsenic they had produced from the erstwhile 10 - and beryllium 8 points wide of the relegation places.

Nearing the extremity of Fabio Pisacane's archetypal run arsenic elder caput coach, his squad person a important cushion to the driblet portion - but his occupation is not done conscionable yet.

Pisacane's broadside inactive look a tricky run-in, and earlier heading up to Bologna they person mislaid their past 3 distant games portion conceding 8 goals.

Bologna Serie A form:

W W L W L L

Bologna signifier (all competitions):

W L W L L L

Cagliari Serie A form:

L L L W L W

Team News

Bologna are inactive missing Nicolo Cambiaghi, Nicolo Casale and first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski owed to injury, portion guardant brace Thijs Dallinga and Jon Rowe stay large doubts. 

Joao Mario has besides been ruled retired for the remainder of the play aft straining his thigh against Roma, but Federico Bernardeschi should beryllium backmost successful enactment connected Sunday.

The second tin situation apical scorer Riccardo Orsolini for enactment connected the location side's close flank, though Orsolini peculiarly likes playing Cagliari: the Italy winger has notched six goals successful the past six Serie A meetings.

Meanwhile, the visitors anticipation to invited backmost midfielder Luca Mazzitelli, but past week's heroes person some been ruled out.

Borrelli (hamstring) and Mendy (thigh) volition beryllium sidelined by muscular problems, joining Mattia Felici, Riyad Idrissi and seasoned striker Leonardo Pavoletti connected the attraction table.

With a vacancy up front, either Semih Kilicsoy oregon Andrea Belotti whitethorn benefit, unless Pisacane alternatively opts to thicken up his midfield.

Bologna imaginable starting lineup:

Ravaglia; Zortea, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Orsolini, Castro, Dominguez

Cagliari imaginable starting lineup:

Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Dossena; Palestra, Deiola, Gaetano, Adopo, Obert; Folorunsho; Esposito

We say: Bologna 2-1 Cagliari

Avoiding decision would surely implicit Cagliari's endurance quest, but Bologna tin conjure up an progressively uncommon location win, having had immoderate clip to retrieve from a engaged April schedule.

Curiously, some teams person dropped a league-high 10 points during the last 15 minutes of play this season, truthful a frantic finale could beryllium successful store.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.