The Serie A fixture between Cagliari and Inter promises to be an intriguing encounter as the teams go head-to-head on December 28 at 18:00 CET. Cagliari, currently fighting to avoid relegation, stands at the brink of desperation with only 14 points from 17 matches, sitting third from the bottom of the table. Their recent form reveals they have only managed to win once out of their last eight league outings, and the pressure is on coach Fabio Nicola to find solutions against the formidable Inter side.
Inter, on the other hand, is significantly higher up the table, positioned third with 37 points and trailing the leaders Atalanta by just three points. The Nerazzurri are determined to maintain their pressure on the top two and secure their spot among the elite as they chase the title. With this match seen as favorable, Simone Inzaghi’s team is poised for victory.
Recent performances from both teams paint contrasting pictures. Cagliari is still reeling from their disappointing performance against Venezia, where they struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Despite their plight, Nicola may opt for surprise tactics, potentially starting Leonardo Pavoletti upfront instead of the usual choice, Piccoli. With Luvumbo unavailable due to injury, the attacking trio of Zortea, Gaetano, and Augello will need to step up alongside the muscular midfielders Adopo and Makoumbou, who are tasked with fortifying the defense.
The defensive lineup for Cagliari includes Sherri between the posts, supported by Zappa, Mina, Luperto, and Obert at the back. All eyes will be on their performance as they try to hold off Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram, who are expected to lead the charge for Inter.
Inter faces its own challenges with missing players, including Acerbi and Pavard due to injuries. De Vrij is back, providing significant relief to the defense, as Darmian's fitness remains uncertain. Coach Simone Inzaghi will deploy his strongest XI, hoping they can overpower the home side. The formation is likely to follow the trusted 3-5-2 setup, utilizing the wings effectively with Dumfries and Dimarco.
The midfield battle looms as pivotal, with Inter fielding Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan, who will aim to dominate proceedings and provide ample service to their forwards. Lautaro, known for being lethal against lower-ranked teams, will be eager to score against Cagliari, hoping to make them his favorite victims alongside Salernitana. The match will be shown live on DAZN, bringing fans the action from Sardinia.
Overall, as the Nerazzurri travel to Cagliari, fans expect nothing less than fireworks. With stakes high for both clubs—the visitors fighting for the title and the hosts desperate for survival—the stage is set for what could be one of the most entertaining fixtures of this Serie A round.
