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Cagliari logo
Serie A | Gameweek 9
Nov 29, 2020 at 5pm UK
Stadio Sant'Elia
Spezia Calcio logo
Cagliari
2 - 2
Spezia
Pedro (52'), Pavoletti (58')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Gyasi (36'), N'Zola (90+3' pen.)
Ferrer (30'), Terzi (33'), Estevez (44'), Chabot (81')

Preview: Cagliari vs. Spezia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Cagliari and Spezia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Cagliari and Spezia square off in Serie A on Sunday evening with just one point separating the sides in the standings.

While the home team lost out to Juventus last week, the visitors have put together a two-match unbeaten streak in the top flight.


Match preview

Eusebio Di Francesco, now in charge of Cagliari, pictured in September 2019© Reuters

After an indifferent campaign under more than one manager during 2019-20, everyone associated with Cagliari is hoping that Eusebio Di Francesco can bring them the stability that they desire.

As it stands, it is so far so good for the former Roma boss, whose new club sit in 11th position in the table despite having to deal with one of the toughest starts to the campaign.

While defeats against Lazio, Atalanta BC and Juventus came as little surprise, victories over Torino, Crotone and Sampdoria mean that Gli Isolani have something to work with ahead of the winter period.

Although there is an equal distance between the top five and the relegation zone, Di Francesco will acknowledge that his primary focus is ensuring that the club do not become embroiled in a battle at the wrong end of the table.

Defeating a team with the same objectives will go some way to easing any lingering pressure, but Spezia will travel to the Sardegna Arena with the feeling that they can cause another shock.

In their first ever top-flight campaign, they have only lost out to three of the top four teams in the division, while collecting wins against Udinese and Benevento.

Last weekend's goalless draw at home to Atalanta BC has moved the club four points clear of the drop zone, far better than Vincenzo Italiano would have been expecting at this stage of the season.

The Little Eagles have also gone over 200 minutes without conceding a league goal from open play, the last of which came against Juve on November 1.

Cagliari Serie A form: LWWLWL
Cagliari form (all competitions): WWLWLW

Spezia Serie A form: LDDLWD
Spezia form (all competitions): DWLWDW


Team News

Spezia manager Vincenzo Italiano pictured in November 2020© Reuters

Having made mass changes for the Coppa Italia tie with Bologna, Italiano is expected to revert to the side which impressed against Atalanta.

Gennaro Acampora and Giulio Maggiore are alternatives in midfield if Italiano opts to make changes to his team.

Cagliari will have to make do without Giovanni Simeone after the Argentine recorded a positive coronavirus test.

Leonardo Pavoletti or Alberto Cerri will get the nod in attack, the latter boosting his case with a goal in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Zappa, Walukiewicz, Klavan, Tripaldelli; Marin, Rog; Nandez, Pedro, Sottil; Cerri

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Vignali, Terzi, Erlic, Bastoni; Maggiore, Ricci, Estevez; Farias, Nzola, Gyasi


SM words green background

We say: Cagliari 2-2 Spezia

Newcomers Spezia have shown on more than one occasion this season that they are capable of upsetting the odds. However, Cagliari can match them for goals and being relatively open at the back, resulting in us predicting an entertaining draw at the weekend.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Spezia win with a probability of 44.27%. A win for Cagliari had a probability of 30.52% and a draw had a probability of 25.2%.

The most likely scoreline for a Spezia win was 0-1 with a probability of 9.75%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (9.11%) and 0-2 (7.44%). The likeliest Cagliari win was 1-0 (7.82%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.93%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 5.6% likelihood.


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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter Milan29244171145776
2AC Milan29195555332262
3Juventus29178444232159
4Bologna29159542251754
5Roma29156855352051
6Atalanta BCAtalanta28145951321947
7Napoli29129844331145
8Fiorentina2812794132943
9Lazio29134123633343
10Monza2911993236-442
11Torino29101182826241
12Genoa29810113136-534
13Lecce29610132645-1928
14Udinese29415102844-1627
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2968152639-1326
16CagliariCagliari2968152950-2126
17Empoli2967162243-2125
18FrosinoneFrosinone2966173760-2324
19SassuoloSassuolo2965183356-2323
20Salernitana2928192359-3614

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