16th-placed Spezia welcome 17th-placed Cagliari to Stadio Alberto Picco for a crucial relegation battle on Saturday evening with kickoff at 17:00.
Spezia were left empty-handed again as they fell to a 1-0 defeat Juventus last Sunday with Alvaro Morata’s 21st-minute goal proving to be only difference between the two. Spezia have now suffered defeats in their last four consecutive Serie A matches, while have failed to win in their last five.
As a result Spezia have been sucked back into trouble after a bright start to 2022 and are now just four points above the relegation zone and have played one game more than the 18th-placed Venezia.
With the season slowly nearing its conclusion Thiago Motta’s side cannot afford any more poor results if there are going to stay away from the bottom three. They will hope to draw confidence from their four-match unbeaten run against Cagliari, as they look to desperately bounce back to winning ways.
Indeed, since Spezia were promoted to Serie A in 2020, Cagliari have yet to defeat their Ligurian counterparts in three attempts – and they had to come from two goals behind to draw August’s reverse fixture 2-2
However, considering recent forms in Serie A Cagliari will feel it’s their time to get the three points. The Rossoblu have only suffered two defeats in their last nine Serie A matches, claiming four wins and three draws in the process.
As result Cagliari have pushed their way out of the relegation zone and they now sit in the 17th with three points above the bottom three, although they have also played one match more than the Venezia, who occupy the last relegation spot.
The Rossoblu are also coming off a damaging result as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Lazio at home last Saturday. The defeat ended their five-match unbeaten run in Serie A while it didn’t do their escape plans any good and will be looking to quickly bounce back as they seek to continue climbing away from the danger zone.
Spezia vs Cagliari head to head
Both sides have met in six encounters since 2012 with both sides claiming two victories and two matches ended in draws.
- Cagliari 2-2 Spezia 23/08/21
- Spezia 2-1 Cagliari 20/03/21
- Cagliari 2-2 Spezia 29/11/20
- Cagliari 1-2 Spezia 02/04/16
- Spezia 0-3 Cagliari 15/11/15
Home
- Juventus 1-0 Spezia
- Spezia 0-1 Roma
- Bologna 2-1 Spezia
- Spezia 1-2 Fiorentina
- Salernitana 2-2 Spezia
Away
- Cagliari 0-3 Lazio
- Torino 1-2 Cagliari
- Cagliari 1-1 Napoli
- Empoli 1-1 Cagliari
- Atalanta 1-2 Cagliari
Spezia team news
Spezia will be without Leo Sena, Ebrima Colley and Jacopo Sala due to injuries.
Cagliari team news
Cagliari will be without Marko Rog, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Kevin Strootman, Damir Ceter, and Nathan Nandez due to injuries.
Prediction and odds
- Cagliari win
- Goals under 2.5
