Preview: Lazio vs Cagliari

Written By Dare Solomon

After one point from three games, Cagliari announced the dismissal of their coach, Leonardo Semplici on Monday and immediately appointed former Napoli manager, Water Mazzarri. Lazio will be without Maurizio Sarri in their quest to find a way to arrest the slight blip that the team has suffered in recent games.

Cagliari so far this season have been involved in high scoring games and Lazio, under Sarri, is a team identified with goals.

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It has been all too rare in recent times where Lazio have shown defensive steel. The facts show that Lazio have been scored against in 5 of their previous 6 matches, shipping 7 goals on the way. Nonetheless, time will tell whether that pattern shall be sustained in this upcoming match or not.

Lazio

Style of play

Lazio had started the season well under Sarri, but defeats to Milan and Galatasaray may have damaged confidence. Fatigue is also an issue, as he didn’t rotate the squad very much in Istanbul on Thursday evening, resting only Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Pedro, both of whom came on later in the game.

Recent form

Lazio’s return from the international break have seen Maurizio Sarri handed a two-match touchline ban after their 2-0 defeat away to AC Milan last weekend before Thomas Strakosha chucked a goal in against Galatasaray to start their UEFA Europa League campaign badly.

Player to watch

Ciro Immobile. Game like this is where the Italian rack up the numbers like he did against spezia scoring an hat trick

Injury update

Bobby Adekanye is out with a meniscal injury and is ruled out of the match.

Cagliari

Style of play

Mazzarri was hired and won’t have much time to enact changes, especially with Kevin Strootman and Leonardo Pavoletti fighting for fitness. Joao Pedro and Keita Balde Diao therefore seem certain to start upfront. Mazzarri should however continue with the 3-5-2 formation that he’s been known for throughout his career with Joao Pedro and Leonardo Pavoletti leading the line, supported by a midfield of Nahitan Nandez, Razvan Marin and Alessandro Deiola as the club continues to struggle with injuries in midfield. Dalbert Henrique and Gabriele Zappa should fill in the wing back roles.

Recent form

The Sardinians have just a point from three games, as the 3-2 home loss to Genoa after taking a 2-0 lead proved the final straw which led to the sacking of Semplici.

Player to watch

Nathan Nandez : After his summer transfer saga, the Uruguayan needs to rediscover his old form which made him a transfer target to many clubs and with Mazzarri, Nandez can only be better and more precise.

Injury update

Marco Rog, Diego Godin, Paolo Farago, Riccardo Ladinetti, Sebastian Walukiewicz and Kevin Strootman could all miss the match due to injury.

Head-To-Head

Cagliari have lost each of their last 10 Serie A visits to Lazio with just two draws from their last 14 league meetings against the Biancocelesti, home and away.

Prediction

Lazio 3-1 Cagliari.

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About Author

Omolagba Oluwayemi

I’m Oluwayemi, a sports analyst, writer and a passionate football follower. I started writing while I was in High School although not sports related but I became a professional sports analyst and writer in the year 2019. My passion for football led me into talking sports. I love writing articles as well and I love reporting events the way they unfold without mincing words for the fear of anyone.

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