In a highly anticipated Serie A matchup, Cagliari faces Napoli on Friday evening. Napoli has demonstrated impressive form, securing three consecutive 2-1 victories against Hellas Verona, Torino, and Lecce. This winning streak puts Napoli just one point behind AC Milan, currently in second place. A win tonight would allow Napoli to surpass Milan in the league standings.
Cagliari Struggling for Form
Cagliari enters this match without a victory since late January. Their last triumph was a commanding 4-0 win over Verona. Since then, they have earned only two points from six matches, leaving them in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone.
Team Status
Napoli will be missing several key players due to injuries, including Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Antonio Vergara, and David Neres. However, their midfield, referred to as the ‘fab four’, is intact. Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Stanislav Lobotka, and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are available to play, providing a significant boost to the team’s setup.
Confirmed Line-ups
| Cagliari (4-3-3) | Napoli (3-4-2-1) |
|---|---|
| Caprile | Milinkovic-Savic |
| Zé Pedro | Beukema |
| Mina | Buongiorno |
| Dossena | Olivera |
| Rodriguez | Politano |
| Adopo | Gilmour |
| Gaetano | Lobotka |
| Sulemana | Gutierrez |
| Palestra | De Bruyne |
| Folorunsho | McTominay |
| Esposito | Højlund |
World Cup Play-offs Implications
This match features six players selected for Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad for upcoming World Cup play-offs. Notable inclusions are Cagliari’s Elia Caprile and Marco Palestra, along with Napoli’s Alessandro Buongiorno, Leonardo Spinazzola, Matteo Politano, and Alex Meret.
The kickoff for this Serie A clash is scheduled for 17:30 GMT. Fans are eager to see if Napoli can continue their winning streak or if Cagliari will break their slump.
