Cagliari – Udinese
Just under eight points separate the two sides, but the feeling is that there is much more at stake for Cagliari and Udinese on Saturday than just a place in the table. The Sardinians travel to their home stadium on the back of a 2-0 win in Verona and are feeling the momentum for the first time in weeks, while Udinese can only offer a cautious 0-0 draw against Bologna as consolation after five games without a win.
The first leg ended 0-2 from Cagliari’s point of view – a blow to the team’s confidence that Davide Nicola’s side will now be looking to make up for at the Unipol Domus. Udinese will have to do without the suspended Ehizibue and Payero as well as the injured Thauvin and Lucca, but at least defensive stalwart Bijol is back. Mina is still missing for Cagliari, but Pavoletti, Luvumbo & Co. sense an opportunity to convert the psychological advantage of their recent victory into points.
Cagliari – Udinese Calcio Info
- Venue: Unipol Domus, Cagliari
- Date and time: May 3, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (matchday 35)
Cagliari form & record check
The 2-0 win in Verona was like a shot in the arm: Cagliari have picked up two wins, one draw and two defeats in their last five games, scoring in four of those matches. It is striking that at least two goals were scored in 80% of those games – a sign of Nicola’s more courageous approach.
At home, they recently recorded a comfortable 3-0 win against Monza, while away defeats such as the 1-3 loss at Inter exposed their defensive fragility. With 33 points in 14th place, they are only one point ahead of Verona, but the trend is upward. Replacements for the injured Mina have worked well so far: Deiola, Gaetano, and the nimble Luvumbo are stepping up – perhaps the decisive factor in the relegation battle.
Cagliari are likely to start in a 3-5-2 formation: Scuffet – Palomino, Luperto, Zortea; Zappa and Augello on the wings; Deiola, Makoumbou and Marin in the center. Pavoletti and Luvumbo form the duo up front. Mina is still out with a muscle injury.
The formation emphasizes winning the ball in midfield and quick transitions. Marin has shown creative flashes recently – if he can find that balance again, Cagliari could dictate the game.
Udinese Calcio Form & Record Check
Udinese are in a tricky phase: four defeats in a row were only interrupted by a 0-0 draw against Bologna. In those five games, the team failed to score a single goal before half-time and remained winless overall.
The injury list is long – Lucca, Thauvin, and Touré are injured; Ehizibue and Payero are suspended. At least Bijol is back to stabilize the defense, and Lovrić is fit again. Nevertheless, Udinese has conceded goals in four of its last five games and, with 36 points, has slipped to 12th place, within reach of its rivals. Youngster Sanchez’s public anger about his substitute role illustrates the uneasy mood.
In short: the 0-0 draw against Bologna was a small step forward, but without any attacking punch, the team is in danger of going into freefall.
Udinese are likely to stick with a 5-4-1 formation: Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Bijol, Solet, Kamara; Modesto, Lovrić, Karlström, Atta; Davis up front. Ehizibue and Payero are suspended, Lucca and Thauvin are injured.
Runjaic is therefore focusing on stability and counterattacks. Bijol’s return provides security, but there is a noticeable lack of class in attack – Sanchez is likely to be on the bench again.
H2H Cagliari – Udinese Calcio Head-to-head comparison & statistics
In the last five direct encounters, Udinese have won twice, Cagliari once, and there have been two draws – most recently 1-1 in February 2024. The 2-0 defeat in October, when Udinese clearly dominated, was particularly painful from Cagliari’s point of view.
Goals are a regular occurrence: four of the five games have seen at least two goals, but never more than three. Cagliari have failed to lead at halftime in all five games, while Udinese have scored at least once in four of those encounters – a pattern that could continue on Saturday.
