With a precious place in Serie A on the line, playoff finalists Cagliari and Bari clash at Unipol Domus on Thursday, when both will seek a first-leg advantage in pursuit of Serie B's third and final promotion spot.
While the Sardinian side are targeting a top-flight return at the first time of asking under Claudio Ranieri, their Puglian counterparts are aiming for back-to-back promotions into the big-time.
Match preview
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Relegated from Italy's top tier 12 months ago, having finished 18th in the 2021-22 Serie A standings, Cagliari's route to within 90 minutes of an immediate return has not run smoothly.
After Fabio Liverani's tenure failed to produce results, veteran coach Claudio Ranieri was appointed in January, and after enduring several bumps in the road his side posted 60 points from 38 fixtures to finish fifth in the Serie B table - enough to qualify for the playoffs' preliminary round.
Gli Isolani then booked their spot in the semis via a 2-1 success over Venezia - who were demoted alongside the Sardinians last year - before tackling one of Ranieri's many former clubs Parma over two legs for a place in the promotion decider.
A dramatic late fightback in Cagliari saw the Rossoblu lead 3-2 after the opening leg, as Gianluca Lapadula's penalty was bookended by a Zito Luvumbo double strike to seize triumph from potential disaster. Four days later at Stadio Tardini, a tense goalless draw then secured aggregate victory; ending goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon's hopes of a top-flight return aged 45.
That draw concluded Cagliari's run of wins at six, and with top marksman Lapadula scoring freely they now host Bari before travelling to Stadio San Nicola for Sunday's return. However, they took just one point from two league meetings with their promotion rivals from Puglia earlier this season.
In the second of the clubs' Serie B clashes this term, Bari needed a last-gasp Mirko Antenucci equaliser to salvage a draw against 10-man opponents, after Lapadula had opened the scoring before later being sent off.
September's visit to Sardinia, though, resulted in a 1-0 win - despite taking just two shots at goal throughout 90 minutes - and the Biancorossi return this time seeking a similar outcome.
Having had to start all over again down in Serie D just five years ago, Bari have since roared back from financial implosion to come within a whisker of achieving Serie A status for the first time since 2011.
After finishing third in the second tier this season, Michele Mignani's men trailed 1-0 to tiny Sudtirol heading into the second leg of their playoff semi-final last week. They then came out fighting at Stadio San Nicola on Friday evening, when Giacomo Ricci's first-half dismissal did not deter them, and a 1-0 home win meant progress to the final by virtue of a better league finish than the South Tyrol side.
Over the course of the next few days, Bari now aim to follow automatically-promoted duo Frosinone and Genoa up to the top flight, and having lost just three of their last 18 matches, they are sure to put Cagliari to the test.
Team News
While neither coach will want to tinker too much with a winning formula, both must make at least one change on Thursday due to suspension.
Following his red card midway through Bari's semi-final second leg, Giacomo Ricci will be unavailable, with Cagliari centre-back Alberto Dossena also banned for picking up two bookings en route to the final. Both will be back for the second leg, though.
Bari should have Cristian Galano and Raffaele Pucino back on the bench at Unipol Domus, where veteran forward Mirko Antenucci will hope to join Morocco striker Walid Cheddira and Inter loanee Sebastiano Esposito up front.
Meanwhile, the hosts' forward line is led by Peru international Gianluca Lapadula, who has scored 25 goals in all competitions this term, three of which have arrived in the playoffs.
Experienced defender Edoardo Goldaniga is favourite to replace Dossena in the Isolani's back four.
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Radunovic; Zappa, Goldaniga, Altare, Azzi; Makoumbou, Deiola; Nandez, Mancosu, Luvumbo; Lapadula
Bari possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Dorval, Di Cesare, Vicari, Mazzotta; Maita, Maiello, Benedetti; Esposito; Cheddira, Antenucci
We say: Cagliari 2-1 Bari
There will be no extra time or penalties in the event of a draw over two legs, and Bari will ultimately be promoted should that happen, due to finishing higher in the Serie B standings. Therefore, the onus is on Cagliari to maximise home advantage on Thursday, when they can establish a lead to protect during the second leg.
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