Cagliari vs Cittadella | Match Preview
On August 20, 2022 by Jake IovineMatch: Cagliari vs Cittadella | Serie B Matchday 2
Date: Sunday, August 21st | 2:45pm EST
Venue: Unipol Domus – Cagliari
TV (United States): Helbiz Live, Fox Soccer Plus
After a goal-fested win last Saturday, Cittadella look to continue their bright start to the season in Sardegna, where promotion contenders Cagliari will be waiting. Both teams are unbeaten in all competitions to start the year, as Cagliari snatched a late equalizer against Como last weekend.
It’s been an optimistic start to the season for Edoardo Gorini and Cittadella despite only being in August. The Granata have claimed two wins from two against Lecce and Pisa, scoring 7 goals in those two games. Winning games from losing positions have been a problem in previous years for the Venetian team, yet in the last two games they have gotten the victory after conceding the first goal.
Gorini will be hoping for more attacking firepower from his front three after they put four on the board last weekend. The same selection of players will be available at his disposal, with the exception of Carlos Embalo, who is still out with an injury picked up in preseason.
For Cagliari, they will be playing their first Serie B match at home since the 2015/16 season, where they were immediately promoted back into the top flight. Despite heavy losses this summer with the likes of Joao Pedro, Raoul Bellanova, Alessio Cragno, and Andrea Carboni, the Casteddu are still considered favorites to be promoted by the end of the season. With the arrival of goal machine Gianluca Lapadula, and the recent addition of veteran Marco Mancosu, Cagliari will no doubt be ones to watch out for.
The last time these two met was just eight months ago, where Cittadella visited Cagliari for the Coppa Italia Round of 32. The Sardinians comfortably won the match 3-1, but it gave a memorable goal from Cittadella left back Daniele Donnarumma, who smashed the ball into the upper 90 on the half-volley.
But before that meeting, the two clubs have rarely met in a competitive fixture. They have only played each other six times in history, with Cagliari dominating the fixture going 5-0-1.
Cagliari will be hoping to shake off some rustiness coming from last weekend. Meanwhile, Cittadella has the opportunity to make it three wins from their opening three in all competitions, and the opportunity to beat Cagliari for the first time in over 21 years.