Sunday’s opponents: Cagliari

It has not been a great 2018 so far for Diego Lopez and Cagliari, who in the new year have so far only won three matches, coming against Spal, Benevento and Udinese. This lack of form has led them to a continuous struggle in fighting against relegation and while their four-point gap between themselves and Crotone is no doubt positive, the Sardinian side’s run-in is not the best. Worryingly, Cagliari have been surprisingly out-of-form at home this season, already suffering nine defeats. They notably seemed to possess a defeatist attitude when they took on Inter in the week, rarely putting on any pressure and conceding a total of four goals.

The Rossoblu have also had a poor tendency to concede goals late on this season, already recording 14 after the 75-minute stage. Furthermore, after losing Joao Pedro to an anti-doping test, their key men are ones of experience. This includes Castan, Pavoletti and Cigarini. The youthful presence of Barella has been one of the few positives, clearly gifted with character and technique, while Romagna’s displays have dropped off in comparison to the start of the season. As for Cragno, the goalkeeper’s stock only seems to be rising after his performances have proved crucial in Cagliari’s fight for salvation.