Preview: Cagliari vs. Empoli – Prediction, team news, lineups

With Cagliari still looking for their first victory in Serie A and Empoli Both teams have a lot at stake when they meet on Friday night as they look to defend their undefeated record.

The visitors arrive in Sardinia having held off two consecutive Champions League matches and beaten Roma, while the hosts' only success came in the Coppa Italia.

Game Preview

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Cagliari are yet to win a game in Serie A this season, losing their last two matches and scoring just one goal in their four games so far.

Last week, the Sardinian team lost 4-0 to Napoli on home soil, after losing 1-0 to Lecce just before the international break. This leaves them one point ahead of bottom-placed Venezia in the table.

Fans of the Rossoblu are used to slow starts, as in the last two seasons in the top flight, Cagliari failed to win any of their first five league games – last year they managed just one goal after five rounds.

But head coach David Nicola It is fair to say that his team has been a little unlucky: they have hit the woodwork more often than any other team – no less than five times in four games – and have already reached the same record as on Matchday 12 of last season.

Now Nicola will face the club he recently kept afloat with a dramatic victory on the final day of Serie A. Cagliari, on the other hand, will be looking for their first home win against Empoli in three matches after failing to score a single goal in their last two encounters.

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However, the last time these sides met, Cagliari took maximum points, winning 1-0 at the Stadio Carlo Castellani last season as both teams were desperately battling to avoid relegation.

Unlike Friday's hosts, Empoli are still unbeaten this season, having advanced in the Coppa Italia and then drawn three of their first four league games.

While that may be a modest achievement, two of those stalemates came against Bologna and Juventus – both of whom finished in the top five last season – and they also beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Azzurri have never before gone through the first five games of a Serie A season unbeaten, but this feat is now possible as Nicolas’ successor Roberto D’Aversa finally takes his place on the coaching bench after the expiration of a suspension.

Ahead of the Coppa duel with the in-form FC Turin next week, the former Parma coach wants to keep up the momentum and take at least one point back to Tuscany.

Cagliari Serie A Form:

Cagliari form (All competitions):

Empoli Serie A Form:

Empoli form (All competitions):

Team News

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Cagliari coach Davide Nicola is looking forward to the match against his former club and could have the entire squad available on Friday evening. Midfielder Matteo Prati hopes to recover from an ankle injury.

After a heavy home defeat in the last game, the summer newcomers Michel Adopo And Nadir Zortea could come on as a substitute to freshen up the hosts' starting line-up after coming on in the final minutes of the 4-0 loss to Napoli.

In front, Roberto Piccolo is supported by Zito Luvumbowho was the Rossoblu's most prolific striker last year. However, the Angolan international has not been involved in a single goal in his last nine league games – his worst run in Serie A.

While Nicola has all his regular players available, Empoli head coach Roberto D'Aversa is still hampered by several absences: He has to rely on Samuel Perisan, Szymon Zurkowski, Tyronne Ebuehi And Jacopo Fazzini due to an injury.

Better news for the guests: The Norwegian striker Ola Solbakken is expected to have overcome a muscle injury and may be able to start on the bench.

Since Fazzini is out and Solbakken is not fit enough, Youssef Maleh and owned by Inter Milan Sebastiano Esposito should continue to supply loan players from AC Milan Lorenzo Colombo in front.

Possible starting eleven for Cagliari:
handcuffs; Zappa, Mina, Luperto; Zortea, Marin, Deiola, Augello; Gaetano, Luvumbo; Piccoli

Possible starting lineup for Empoli:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Pezzella; Maleh, Esposito; Colombo

We think: Cagliari 1-0 Empoli

Only four league goals have been scored between these two teams this season, so it could be that a single goal decides the points.

Supported by the loud home fans, Cagliari can take the lead with a long overdue victory and narrowly beat the guests from Tuscany.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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