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Serie A Preview: Cagliari - Atalanta

Two potential relegation candidates come face to face on Sunday afternoon.....

Oct 31, 2009 10:05:00 AM

Simone Tiribocchi - Atalanta (Getty Images)

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Simone Tiribocchi - Atalanta (Getty Images)

Teams

Kick-Off: Sunday November 1, 15:00 CET
Stadio Sant'Elia, Cagliari

Back In Form Again

Cagliari may be 13th in the Serie A table but coach Massimiliano Allegri knows that that avoiding the drop at the end of the season remains their main objective. The fact that the Rossoblu are only four points above the danger zone reinforces this belief.

Not that Cagliari are in relegation form at the moment. They have won their last two league games - first winning 3-2 against Genoa and then defeating Lazio 1-0 in Rome - and seem to be doing pretty well at the moment.

Last season the Isolani finished ninth in the standings and they are gradually moving into the sort of form that placed them in the top half of the Serie A table. Under the current circumstances, Cagliari ought to defeat Atalanta at home on Sunday afternoon.

Struggling For Survival

Since Antonio Conte became their coach, Atalanta have suffered only one defeat in Serie A but that came against Livorno in midweek. The results since Conte's arrival include a respectable 1-1 draw with Milan at home, a 3-1 victory over Udinese away and a 3-1 defeat of Parma in front of their own supporters.

Those brilliant results have propelled the Nerazzurri out of the relegation zone, but the danger is far from averted. At the moment Atalanta are two places above the drop zone and level on points with third from bottom Livorno. This implies that avoiding the yawning trapdoor at the end of the season remains the club's major concern.

FORM GUIDE

Cagliari

October 28 v Lazio (A) - WON 1-0 (Serie A)

October 25 v Genoa (H) WON 3-2 (Serie A)

October 17 v Catania (A) LOST 2-1 (Serie A)

October 4 v Chievo (H) LOST 2-1 (Serie A)

September 27 v Parma (A) WON 2-0 (Serie A)

Atalanta

October 28 v Livorno (A) - LOST 1-0 (Serie A)

October 25 v Parma (H) – WON 3-1 (Serie A)

October 18 v Udinese (A) – WON 3-1 (Serie A)

October 04 v Milan (H) – DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

September 27 v Chievo (A) – DREW 1-1 (Serie A)

TEAM NEWS

Cagliari

Francesco Pisano and Lino Marzoratti have already been ruled out of Sunday's clash. There are doubts on Andrea Cossu and Daniele Conti.

Probable Line-up (4-3-1-2): Marchetti, Canini, Astori, Lopez, Agostini; Dessena, Conti, Lazzari; Cossu; Matri, Jeda

Atalanta

Midfielder Edgar Barreto's ankle surgery on Monday means he will play no part, and right-back Gyorgy Garics is out with a twisted knee. Robert Acquafresca, Adriano Ferreira Pinto, Thomas Manfredini and Diego De Ascentis are unavailable too. There are doubts over Cristiano Doni, Paolo Bianco and Tiberio Guarente.

Probable Line-up (4-4-2): Consigli, Madonna, Talamonti, Peluso, Bellini; Padoin, Radovanovic, Guarente, Valdes; Doni, Tiribocchi

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jeda (Cagliari)

The Brazilian striker has three goals to his name so far this season and has been in decent form overall. The 30-year-old will be asked to lead the Cagliari attack against Atalanta on Sunday and the Sant'Elia faithful will be hoping that he does his job perfectly.

Simone Tiribocchi (Atalanta)

The Italian striker has scored four times in the league so far and has looked in great shape and form under coach Conte. He will again be shouldering the main goal scoring burden this week.

PREDICTION

It's a tricky game and one that is hard to call at this stage. Cagliari are in good form at the moment while Atalanta have been clawing themselves out of danger since Conte arrived. But it cannot be ignored that the visitors lost in midweek - maybe their good form has lost some of its colour?

Cagliari 2-1 Atalanta

Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com

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