Key Facts
- Cagliari (16th/19 points) are level on points with Genoa and only two points ahead of Lecce; Juventus (4th/39) is one point behind Napoli, so a slip-up would be costly.
- Cagliari has won only one of its last five league games and conceded goals before halftime in four of them; without Deiola and Folorunsho, the midfield lacks stability.
- Juventus has won four of its last five Serie A games, scoring in all five and most recently winning 5-0 against Cremonese; they are strongest after the break.
- Vlahović (adductors) and Milik are still out, so the pressure to finish is heavily on David at Juventus – support should come from Yıldız and McKennie.
- In direct comparison, Cagliari has been winless in five games; Juventus has scored 10 goals in that period, and Cagliari has conceded goals in all five games.
- The odds (1.5/4.2/6.3) reflect Juve’s status as favorites; tips are for an away win, second half and clean sheet, supported by Cagliari’s run of conceding goals and the absences of Belotti and Felici.
There is pressure on both dugouts at the Unipol Domus, but for very different reasons. On matchday 21 of Serie A, Cagliari go into the weekend in 16th place with 19 points, level on points with Genoa and only two points ahead of Lecce – a season that often looks more like a relegation battle than a comfortable escape. Juventus Turin, on the other hand, are in 4th place with 39 points, just one point behind Napoli; the upward trend is now back in line with expectations for the top 4. Juventus are also in strong form in the league, most recently winning 5-0 against Cremonese, while Cagliari urgently need a response after their heavy defeat at Genoa. The last meeting on November 29 ended 2-1 in Juve’s favor, part of a run of five games without defeat against the islanders. Pisacane hopes Mina can return, while Spalletti has Gatti and Conceição back in training, but Vlahović remains sidelined.
- Venue: Unipol Domus, Cagliari
- Date and time: January 17, 2026, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 21)
The bookmakers make Juventus the clear favorites, with odds of 1.5 to 6.3 for Cagliari and 4.2 for a draw – but what is more exciting is how this superiority will ultimately manifest itself on the pitch. With Gatti and Conceição back in training and Locatelli setting the pace, Juventus are noticeably picking up speed after the break. Cagliari’s midfield looks overstretched without Deiola and Folorunsho, so “Juventus to win,” a victory in the second half, and “to nil” go well together, even if Mina returns.
Cagliari Form & Record Check
Cagliari goes into matchday 21 in 16th place in the table with 19 points, level on points with Genoa and only two points ahead of Lecce, so there is little room for error. In Serie A, the last five games have brought one win, two draws, and two losses, a record that is neither disastrous nor particularly reassuring. There have been no reinforcements so far in January, and Pisacane’s team is competitive at times but too often finds itself chasing the game. The 3-0 defeat at Genoa was a painful reality check, conceding an early goal and then falling apart after the break, even though Palestra hit the bar. Before and after that, there was a lot of resistance in two 2-2 draws, at Cremonese and at home against Pisa, both times requiring a reaction in the second half. The 0-1 defeat to Milan hurt because the pressing was aggressive, but the finishing was not. The best away day remains Torino, won 2-1. One problem is how open they start games; in four of their last five league games, they have conceded goals in the first half and have never been ahead at the break. The games were open, with more than 2.5 goals scored in four of those five, yet Cagliari conceded every time. With Folorunsho and Deiola out, plus Belotti and Felici missing, Pisacane needs Gaetano and Esposito to drive the creative play, Luvumbo is back, and Mina’s return could help.
Pisacane is likely to stick with his usual 4-3-3 formation, with Caprile in goal and a back four of Palestra, Mina, Luperto, and Obert. Mina is being carefully built up, which is the key variable. If he is not ready for the starting lineup, Zé Pedro seems to be the most obvious replacement alongside Luperto, with the fullbacks pushing up in Cagliari’s build-up play. With Folorunsho and Deiola out, Adopo, Prati, and Mazzitelli seem to be the most likely trio in the center. Up front, Luvumbo will be expected to spread the field, while the other positions appear more open, with Kılıçsoy competing with Borrelli for the center forward spot and Esposito in a similar battle with Gaetano. Belotti and Felici remain sidelined.
Juventus Form & Record Check
Juventus travels to Cagliari looking like a team that has really found its footing in the league again. With 39 points, they are fourth, one point behind Napoli and level on points with Roma, so there is little room for error. Under Spalletti, the team’s soccer has become more offensive, with cleaner spacing in possession, even though he continues to emphasize that tackling and immediately regaining possession are the next steps. The last five Serie A appearances tell the story of a team that usually wins with authority, but not without showing signs of its own limitations. The 2-1 win against Roma was controlled in the decisive moments, the 2-0 win in Pisa was played down soberly, then the 1-1 draw against Lecce revealed a certain impatience and lack of punch against a compact block. Since then, the 3-0 win at Sassuolo and 5-0 home win against Cremonese have been clear victories. Statistically, the pattern is clear: Juventus has scored in each of these five games and is strongest after the break, often turning tight starts into comfortable finishes. Locatelli sets the pace, Cambiaso is always available, and Thuram brings a dynamism to the game with his runs that can change the rhythm. With Vlahović missing and Milik still out, the pressure to finish is heavily on David, who needs support from Yıldız and McKennie.
Juventus are likely to stick with Spalletti’s 4-2-3-1, with Di Gregorio behind a back four of Kalulu, Gatti, Bremer, and Cambiaso. The double pivot of Locatelli and Thuram will set the pace and secure the center, allowing Koopmeiners to operate between the lines, while Conceição and Yıldız attack the half-spaces. Up front, David is likely to be the target man, especially with Vlahović out with an adductor injury and Milik also unavailable. If Spalletti wants more depth, Openda is the obvious alternative from the bench. At the back, Rugani’s calf injury slows down rotation in central defense, so Kelly could be the first choice.
Cagliari – Juventus Head-to-head & Statistics
Cagliari has not won any of the last five matches, with Juventus Turin leading the series with three wins and two draws. In November 2025, it was another close game, with Juventus winning 2-1 after a 1-0 away win in February 2025. Since 2024, Juventus has had a winning streak of three games in this head-to-head comparison. The goal trends also favor Juventus: 10 goals for Juventus in these five games, 4 for Cagliari, which makes 2.8 goals per game. Both teams scored in three of the five games, but Cagliari conceded goals in all five, a pattern that keeps recurring in this duel. It is also noteworthy that three consecutive head-to-head matches in 2024 saw over 1.5 total goals. Juventus often set the pace early on. In four of the last five games, they scored before the break, and Cagliari conceded goals in the first half at the same rate, indicating a familiar early control pattern. The 2024 Coppa Italia match ended 4-0 to Juventus in a single game, ending Cagliari’s cup run that evening. Vlahović is unavailable for this game, so the goals may have to come from David, Openda, or Yıldız.
