Roma vs Cagliari
Italian Serie A.
Date: Sunday, 22 January 2017
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome).
Roma is on a three-game winning run since losing to defending champions and league leaders Juventus in the middle of last month. The team still occupies second place in the overall standings, only one point behind Juve and three points ahead of third-place squad Napoli.
I Giallorossi is coming off a 1-0 nipping of middling team Udinese on the road at the Dacia Arena last Sunday, as per BBC Sport.
Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan scored the winning goal for head coach Luciano Spalletti's side right in the 12th minute of the match with a right-footer from the center of the penalty box off an assist from Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman following a through ball.
It was the fifth win in six games for Roma as the team continues to challenge Juve for the Scudetto this term.
Meanwhile, Cagliari is the most successful of the three promoted teams for this season. They are currently in the 10th spot of the 20-team Italian top flight table, 11 points below the final Europa League qualifying berth held by AC Milan and a comfortable 16 points above the bottom three relegation zone.
Gli Isolani pulled off an impressive 4-1 victory over lowly squad Genoa at their home ground of Sant'Elia Stadium also last Sunday, via Sofa Score.
Genoa netted the first goal of the game in the 28th minute with a header from Argentine forward Giovanni Simeone, but Cagliari went on a scoring spree afterward to claim the win.
Italian striker Marco Borriello leveled the count in the 39th minute before Brazilian midfielder Joao Pedro gave the lead to the Islanders in the 44th as the hosts take a 2-1 lead at the half.
Borriello then scored his second goal of the game in the 59th while Brazilian forward Diego Farias completed the four-goal haul with a penalty kick in the 64th.
Roma vs Cagliari: Head-to-head statistics
Roma have a record of W15-D4-L1 in their past 20 home games against teams ranked below them in the table.
Cagliari have a record of W2-D4-L14 in their past 20 away games against teams ranked above them in the table.
The Giallorossi have scored at least 3 goals in 8 of their last 10 home matches.
The Lupi have lost only two of the last 31 league encounters against the Sardinians at the Olimpico (W15 D14 L2).
However, both defeats came over the last meetings in Rome: September 2011 and February 2013.
Roma have won six out of their last seven Serie A games (whilst drawing the other).
They have scored at least 2 goals in 10 of their last 12 home matches against Cagliari in all competitions.
Cagliari have lost five out of their last six road fixtures.
Roma vs Cagliari: Prediction
This could see plenty of goals, especially considering that there have been over 2.5 goals in nine out of Roma’s last ten home games. With Juventus taking on Roma’s cross town rivals Lazio, the Giallorossi will hope their bitter city foes can do them a small favor and halt the Bianconeri, but in all honesty, they will have to take care of business here to keep up any sort of pressure on the league leaders.
Roma vs Cagliari: Betting tips
Over 2.5 goals at 3/10 (1.30)
Roma to win and BTTS – YES at 13/10 (2.30).
