We’ve got an exciting Serie A showdown on the horizon as Inter Milan gear up to take on Cagliari at the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. With Inter sitting pretty at the top of the table with 82 points, boasting a solid 14-point lead over their city rivals AC Milan, this match promises some top-tier action. Meanwhile, Cagliari finds themselves in 13th place, trying to keep a four-point buffer above the dreaded relegation zone.
Let’s delve into the historical matchups between these two sides. Out of their 33 encounters, Inter has clinched victory 21 times, while Cagliari managed to triumph on 5 occasions. The last time these titans clashed was on August 29, 2023, at Cagliari’s turf, where Inter walked away with a 2-0 win.
Now, onto recent form. Inter comes into this game riding high on a three-game winning streak in the league, with their latest triumph being a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Udinese. However, they had a bit of a wobble earlier on, drawing in two consecutive matches, prompting doubts about their end-of-season form. Nonetheless, a win here would see them make history, becoming the first team ever to rack up 85 points after 32 rounds. Impressive stuff! Plus, with just one league loss under their belt this season, back in September, they’ve been a formidable force.
Cagliari, on the other hand, are scrapping to stay clear of relegation woes. Their recent 2-1 win over Atalanta showcased their fighting spirit, marking only one defeat in their last seven league outings. Three wins in that span have injected some much-needed momentum into their survival bid.
Now, let’s talk team news. For Inter, Martinez is suspended in attack, but there’s a glimmer of hope with Stefan De Vrij back in training. However, they’ll sorely miss the services of Benjamin Pavard and top-scorer Lautaro Martinez, both serving suspensions. As for Cagliari, they’ll have to make do without Leonardo Pavoletti and Marco Mancosu due to injury woes, while Andrea Petagna is a slight doubt. Adding to their woes, Nahitan Nandez and Alessandro Deiola are serving one-game bans.
Key Points to Consider:
- Inter has seen fewer than three goals in three of their last four league matches.
- They’ve kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 11 home league fixtures.
- With just 15 goals conceded, Inter boasts the best defense in Serie A.
- Cagliari struggles on the road, being the lowest scoring away team with only nine goals in 15 away games.
- In five of Cagliariโs last seven Serie A matches, there have been under 2.5 goals.
- Their last three away league games have seen two or fewer goals.
Bookies are tipping Inter Milan as heavy favorites with odds of 1.2 for their victory, while Cagliari trails behind at 16. Looking at the stats, a bet on “Total goals Under(3.5)” seems like a solid choice.
In a nutshell, it’s safe to say that Inter Milan has the upper hand in this encounter against the struggling Cagliari side. My prediction? A comfortable 3-1 win for the home team. Let’s see how it all unfolds on matchday!