Continuing their latest scrap for Serie A survival, Cagliari welcome a doomed Monza side to Sardinia on Sunday, as they aim to pull further clear of the drop zone.
While the Brianzoli are surely Serie B-bound, their hosts are on course to avoid relegation and secure a third consecutive top-flight campaign.
Match preview
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Despite pushing Italy's most in-form team close just before the international break, Cagliari came away from Stadio Olimpico with a 1-0 loss, as Artem Dovbyk's decisive strike wrapped up maximum points for Roma.
Defeat against beloved former boss Claudio Ranieri - who led the Rossoblu back to the big time in 2023 - left them four points above the bottom three with nine games remaining.
Current coach Davide Nicola will no doubt be concerned that his side have scored just twice in their last five matches, at a time when a handful of goals can make the difference between being sunk or staying afloat.
A further worry is that Cagliari have lost four of their last seven home games, which is as many home defeats as they suffered across the previous 15.
So, they will be keen to continue a seven-match unbeaten streak against Monza at their Sardinian stronghold - a run that dates all the way back to 1984.
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Since making their top-tier debut in 2022, Monza have met Cagliari three times in Serie A, with both clubs winning one game apiece: in January's reverse fixture, the Brianzoli were beaten 2-1.
That was one of nine home defeats this term, as a side that finished in mid-table at the end of the last two seasons have slumped to the foot of the standings and are now 10 points shy of safety.
After his sacking and subsequent re-hiring, Alessandro Nesta's return has not led to any improvement, with the Biancorossi picking up two points from a possible 15 since the former Italy star took over from Salvatore Bocchetti.
Overall, they have accrued a mere 15 points so far: compared to 42 at this stage last season, a negative difference of 27 is the largest of any club throughout Serie A.
Though Monza did draw 1-1 with Parma last time out - as Armando Izzo's second-half strike was cancelled out by a brilliant equaliser from Ange-Yoan Bonny - the last time they even went unbeaten in consecutive league games was back in November.
Team News
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As Zito Luvumbo, Gabriele Zappa and Florinel Coman have all returned to full training during the international break, Cagliari will only be missing Slovakian centre-back Adam Obert on Sunday.
Davide Nicola switched to a three-man defence against Roma, but it remains to be seen whether he reverts to a back four against lesser opposition.
Either way, Roberto Piccoli will start up front. Among forwards across Europe's top five leagues, only Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Borussia Monchengladbach's Tim Kleindienst have contested more duels this season, while Piccoli's tally of seven Serie A goals already represents his best campaign to date.
Meanwhile, Monza captain Matteo Pessina has undergone surgery on a longstanding thigh injury that has ruled him out for most of the season; Andrea Carboni, Luca Caldirola and Stefano Sensi are also sidelined.
Set to partner either Keita Balde or Silvere Ganvoula up front, Dany Mota will again aim to end his long goal drought. After scoring with each of his first four shots in Serie A this term, the Portuguese striker has since failed to find the net with any of the next 23.
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Adopo, Prati, Makoumbou, Augello; Viola; Piccoli
Monza possible starting lineup:
Turati; Pereira, Izzo, D'Ambrosio; Birindelli, Castrovilli, Bianco, Zeroli, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Balde
We say: Cagliari 2-1 Monza
While neither side has found much rhythm up front, their defensive deficiencies could lead to several goals.
Monza and Cagliari have conceded the most from corners in Serie A this season, and Sunday's hosts have shipped the most from set pieces. Yet, the Sardinians pose more attacking threat.
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Jonathan O'Shea
