Following a run of five consecutive victories, Lazio have failed to win six of their last nine league matches, most recently losing at home to 10-man Fiorentina.

Despite having an extra player for most of the second half, Marco Baroni's men could not break through until a stoppage-time strike by Adam Marusic that proved too late to get them back into the contest.

Then, on Thursday night, the Biancocelesti wrapped up their league-phase campaign in the Europa League with a 1-0 defeat in Braga - albeit their knockout place had already been booked with two rounds remaining.

In spite of suffering their first continental loss of the season, Lazio still topped the table and swept straight through to the last 16 without needing a playoff.

With four weeks to go until a Coppa Italia quarter-final against Inter Milan, swiftly followed by their return to Europe, the Rome club can now concentrate fully on the league.

Unbeaten in 19 Serie A matches against Cagliari - winning 16 times and averaging 2.3 goals per game in the process - history will weigh heavily on their side in Sardinia.

In fact, Lazio could now set a new club record, having never posted a longer run without defeat against any opponent in their top-flight history - they also managed 19 against Inter, between 1996 and 2005.

In addition to a 2-1 loss in November's reverse fixture at Stadio Olimpico, Cagliari have lost each of their last five home matches against Lazio by an aggregate score of 12-3.

Though the Isolani have accrued seven points from their last four matches, keeping them just above the drop zone, the odds are therefore stacked against claiming any more on Monday.

After last week's 2-0 away defeat to Torino, Cagliari have lost nine games without scoring in Italy's top tier this season, and no team has done so on more occasions.

With only two clean sheets kept so far, their defensive record is no better, and a weakness at set pieces will be of particular concern for coach Davide Nicola - a proven past master in terms of securing Serie A survival.

No side has conceded more goals from dead-ball situations (14), while Lazio have scored 13 - only fewer than Inter.

Furthermore, Cagliari have been beaten in five of 11 home games this season, which is already just one defeat fewer than through the whole of last season, when they only stayed up by a whisker.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Caprile; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Deiola, Marin, Felici; Gaetano; Piccoli

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Zaccagni; Castellanos