Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Serie A clash between Cagliari and Roma, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Starting their first full season under Daniele De Rossi, Sunday’s Serie A opener takes Roma to Sardinia, where Cagliari will play host.
While the Giallorossi parted ways with Jose Mourinho last term, the Isolani bade a somewhat fonder goodbye to veteran coach Claudio Ranieri, who finally announced his retirement.
Match preview
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Despite ditching Europa Conference League-winning boss Mourinho for a returning hero in mid-season, Roma still ended up sixth in the final Serie A standings – occupying the same place for a third year running.
Having posted 63 points again – the same total as in both of the previous two years – it was clear to the club hierarchy that change was needed, so Daniele De Rossi was handed a three-year contract and provided with several new signings.
Most notably, last season’s La Liga ‘Pichichi’ winner Artem Dovbyk has arrived from Girona, while Matias Soule and Enzo Le Fee should freshen up a functional midfield.
Therefore, expectations are high that Roma can challenge for a Champions League place, although concerns remain about the future of beloved forward Paulo Dybala – ‘La Joya’ has been subject of strong interest from Saudi Arabia.
Beaten by Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League semi-finals, De Rossi’s side lost just six times in 27 matches last term, and during pre-season they were beaten only once in six.
After finishing their warm-up schedule with a 1-1 draw against Everton, the Giallorossi now kick off a new league campaign against opponents they have dominated for many years, so maximum points will be the requirement.
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Cagliari have won only one of their last 18 league games versus Roma, losing 13 times – including each of the last four, following a 4-0 away defeat in February.
Having led the Rossoblu back to Serie A and then kept them afloat by a single point last season, ex-Roma coach Claudio Ranieri’s retirement was greeted with great emotion in Sardinia, where top-flight survival specialist Davide Nicola has since stepped into the breach.
The latter helped Empoli stay up by the skin of their teeth last season, following similar rescue acts at Crotone and Salernitana, and his task will be similar in 2024-25.
Following a mixed bag of results in pre-season friendlies, Cagliari returned to competitive action with Monday’s Coppa Italia tie against Carrarese, and they avoided a first-round upset against the Tuscan minnows.
New loan signing Roberto Piccoli bagged a brace in the Rossoblu’s 3-1 home win, setting them up for the challenge of hosting a Serie A heavyweight on the new season’s opening weekend.
Cagliari form (all competitions):
Roma pre-season form:
Team News
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While established pros such as Romelu Lukaku and Leonardo Spinazzola may have left Roma this summer – and Paulo Dybala is apparently hovering by the exit – new signings Matias Soule, Enzo Le Fee and Artem Dovbyk should all start on Sunday.
Soule is set to take the place of his compatriot Dybala, while Dovbyk replaces Lukaku up front; Le Fee could take the place of another Argentinian, Leandro Paredes, who must serve a suspension.
Daniele De Rossi has reported no fitness concerns, so he can field his first-choice XI, captained by Italy midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Meanwhile, Cagliari will be missing the suspended Yerry Mina, but they are also expecting to have a clean bill of health for their Serie A opener.
Alberto Dossena, Ibrahim Sulemana and Nahitan Nandez all left this summer, but Michel Adopo and Roberto Piccoli both arrived on loan from Atalanta BC, and centre-back Sebastiano Luperto has followed Davide Nicola south from Empoli.
Against Carrarese, the latter featured in a three-man defence, with Piccoli playing an influential role up front.
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Zappa, Wieteska, Luperto; Azzi, Marin, Adopo, Deiola, Augello; Luvumbo, Piccoli
Roma possible starting lineup:
Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Le Fee, Cristante, Pellegrini; Soule, Dovbyk, El Shaarawy
We say: Cagliari 1-2 Roma
A new-look Roma side should have sufficient flair to unlock their hosts on Sunday, though it could take more than one goal to seize victory in Sardinia.
Cagliari can generally hold their own on home turf, but doubts remain about their defence despite Davide Nicola’s appointment.
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