Cagliari vs Roma

Rock-bottom Cagliari and out-of-sorts Roma will lock horns at Sardegna Arena in what looks like a must-win Serie A fixture for both sides.

Cagliari came out victorious in their most recent Serie A meeting with Roma (3-2 in April), halting a 13-game winless streak in their top-flight H2Hs (D4, L9). Seeking their first back-to-back Serie A victories over this opposition since 2012, the ‘Sardinians’ will be desperate to register their first league clean sheet against Roma at home after 14 unsuccessful attempts! However, having racked up just one win from their inaugural nine Serie A fixtures this season (D3, L5), the hosts are rooted to the foot of the table, trailing safety by two points. Sardegna Arena has witnessed some goal-friendly affairs this season, with three of Cagliari’s five Serie A games at this venue so far featuring 4+ goals and both teams scoring.

Meanwhile, since beating Empoli 2-0 at home on the eve of October’s international break, Roma have failed to get on the scoresheet in their subsequent two Serie A outings (D1, L1), both of which featured under 1.5 total goals. Moreover, Jose Mourinho’s men have lost three consecutive Serie A away games by a single-goal margin following a 4-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Salernitana in their first league road trip of the season. Worryingly, the ‘Giallorossi’ have now lost ten of their 16 Serie A games outside the Stadio Olimpico in 2021 (W3, D3), more defeats than any other Serie A side have suffered in that period. Roma’s away action usually sparks into life after half-time, with six (75%) of their eight league goals scored on the road this term coming in the second half of play.