Serie A action resumes for 2018 this weekend and the defending champions will close this round of fixtures on Saturday night, with a trip to Cagliari. The home team need the points to keep themselves above the relegation zone. Before the start of this weekends fixtures, Cagliari find themselves 15th in Serie A, with 20 points to their name and that leaves them 5 points clear of the relegation zone.
Juventus begin the weekend sitting second in the league but could be 4 points adrift of Napoli by the time this game kicks-off. They cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to overhaul Napoli at the top of the table.
Serie A – Saturday 6th January / 19:45
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Draw Best Odd of: 19/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Cagliari
JuventusCagliari Form
Cagliari come into this match with a little more confidence than they would have done a couple of weeks ago, thanks to their 2-1 win at Atalanta in their final match of 2017. The win was Cagliari’s first in their last 6 Serie A games and they need to start picking up points more regularly, if they are to avoid being sucked into a battle at the bottom of the league this season.
Cagliari have failed to win their last 3 home matches in Serie A, drawing 2-2 with Sampdoria and losing to both Inter Milan and Fiorentina. The problem Cagliari have faced in recent home games is preventing the opposition from scoring and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 8 home Serie A matches.
Juventus Form
Juventus are unbeaten in their last 6 Serie A games and look to be back to their best as they aim to return to the top of the table. The Old lady have also made progress in the Coppa Italia and have reached the semi-final thanks to a win over Torino recently. This result means the double is still on, something which looked out of reach following the defeat at Sampdoria.
However, the loss at Sampdoria is the only defeat Juventus have tasted in their last 17 games in all competitions and they have remained unbeaten in their last 10.
Away from home in Serie A, Juventus have lost just one match, which was the defeat to Sampdoria and they have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 Serie A matches.
Team News
Cagliari will be without Daniele Dessena and Senna Miangue who are injured plus the suspended Joao Pedro. The hosts also have doubts over Nicolo Barella and Alessio Cragno.
Juventus are still without central defender Benedikt Howedes and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Having rested some first-team players in the Coppa Italia, they should all be fit and Gonzalo Higuain, among others, will return to the starting XI for this match.
Top Betting Tip & Prediction
Juventus are looking strong once again this season and having tasted defeat away to Sampdoria, will be taking no chances in this game. Juventus to win is 1/3 with William Hill.
Cagliari have struggled when it comes to playing teams in the top 5 of the league and have scored just one goal in matches against those teams this season. Juventus have kept 5 clean sheets in their last 6 games and will want to add another to their collection. Juventus to win to nil is Evens with Ladbrokes.
Juventus have scored 3 or more goals in 4 of their last 6 away meetings with Cagliari. You can get 7/1 with Ladbrokes for Juventus to win the match 3-0.