Serie A | Gameweek 21

Jan 19, 2025 at 2pm UK

Sardegna Arena

Cagliari vs Lecce

Match preview

Cagliari picked up an excellent point away at AC Milan last weekend, but it wasn't enough to prevent them dropping into the relegation zone, with just one win in six games contributing to their downfall.

Their form at home has been particularly poor, and having lost back-to-back games there without scoring, they could be on course for their first three-game winning streak in over 12 years.

Sitting in 18th place, one point behind a group of teams just outside the bottom three, Davide Nicola could do with his side halting that run at home sooner rather than later.

Venezia and Monza are both slightly off the pace, but six clubs could end the weekend in 18th place, highlighting the tightness of the relegation battle in Serie A at the moment.

While their recent form gives the home fans little to get excited about, their history with Lecce might.

The Sardinian club have only lost one home game to Lecce in Serie A, and that was back in 2012, but the visitors have the upper hand in more recent head-to-head encounters.

Lecce are unbeaten in six games against Cagliari, and if they can extend that run, they will equal the club record for the longest unbeaten run against a single opponent in Serie A history, having also gone seven games without defeat against Siena in the mid-2000s.

More history is on the cards, as a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture in August gave Lecce the chance to complete the Serie A double against Cagliari for the first time.

Marco Giampaolo's men will also go into the game full of confidence after an impressive 3-1 win at Empoli last weekend, the same opponents who held them to a draw on home soil and ultimately led to the sacking of Luca Gotti.

Giampaolo has now been in charge for eight games since his appointment, and the Salentini have picked up 11 valuable points as they have climbed out of the bottom three and into 13th place with last weekend's win.

The margin of victory last time out was also a big surprise given their struggles in front of goal this season, and Lecce remain the league's lowest scorers with just 14 goals in 20 games, having failed to find the net in half of their Serie A fixtures.

Sitting just two points above the relegation zone, this would be the perfect time for Lecce to record back-to-back wins for the first time since April and further extend their lead.

Recent Performance

Cagliari Serie A form:LLLLWD

Cagliari form (all competitions):LLLLWD

Lecce Serie A form:LWLLDW

Team News

Cagliari's injury crisis continues to mount, with Yerry Mina missing out last weekend and Jose Luis Palomino forced off in the second half of the draw at Milan.

They will join Zito Luvumbo, who has an ankle problem, and Jakub Jankto on the sidelines, with the Czech midfielder currently suffering from an illness.

Lecce's injury list is even longer, with Hamza Rafia joining them after missing last weekend's game.

Medon Berisha has missed the last three games and joins long-term absentees Kialonda Gaspar (knee), Lameck Banda (ankle) and Joan Gonzalez (illness) in the treatment room.

While Lecce have struggled to find the back of the net, Montenegro striker Nikola Krstovic, who has scored 43% of their Serie A goals this season, has found the net in their last two meetings with Cagliari.

Possible starting lineup

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Caprile; Zappa, Wieteska, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Adopo, Makoumbou, Felici; Viola, Piccoli

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Dorgu; Helgason, Coulibaly, Pierret; Pierotti, Krstovic, Tete Morente