Cagliari to edge Serie A cellar dwellers Chievo Verona
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Chievo Verona’s long stay in Serie A is coming to an end. Chievo have secured just 11 points from 84 possible and sit at the bottom of the league table. The Flying Donkeys have won just once all season while losing 16 matches in league play.
Cagliari will arrive at the Stadio Marc ‘Antonio Bentegodi on Friday night full of confidence. The Sardinian side is 14th in Serie A and six points above the relegation zone. Cagliari have won three of their last five matches to strengthen their bid for Serie A safety.
Rolando Maran’s Cagliari have tallied the league’s third fewest goals (25), but the team’s saving grace has been its defence. Cagliari have allowed just 40 goals which is tied for the ninth fewest. Cagliari have scored six goals in their last six matches.
Chievo, on the other hand, have failed to score and prevent goals in equal measure. The Flying Donkeys have conceded a league leading 54 goals while scoring just 21 times. Their last six games have seen a combined scoreline of 10-2.
Chievo are on their third manager of the season. Domenico Di Carlo was appointed manager in November, and despite consistently poor results, he has remained in the job.
The last six meetings between the two teams have ended in three wins apiece. Cagliari have already beaten Chievo twice this term with a win in Serie A and another in the Coppa Italia. The fixtures saw over 2.5 goals scored as Cagliari won both matches by 2-1 scorelines. Although games between the two clubs have been high scoring previously, goals shouldn’t be expected on Friday night due to the teams’ poor goalscoring records.
Cagliari will be without top goal scorer Leonardo Pavoletti due to suspension. The Italian striker has bagged 10 goals this term. His absence will hurt the Sardinian side in front of goal. Maran could have centre-back Ragnar Klavan back from injury along with Alberto Cerri. Both returned to training this week.
Leading sportsbooks actually have Chievo as the slight favourite for Friday night’s game. It seems a bit strange due to the Flying Donkeys’ lack of victories this season. The clash between Chievo and Cagliari won’t see many goals and fewer than 2.5 should be expected.
Cagliari are much better than Chievo. The Islanders have won twice already this season against Chievo and on Friday night they will make it a third time. Cagliari will win all three points with fewer than 2.5 goals flying into the nets at the Bentegodi.
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