Important Facts
- Cagliari (12th/25 points) sits in mid-table between Sassuolo and Genoa; a win would put them some distance clear of the danger zone, while Verona, in 20th/14th, are under massive pressure.
- Cagliari are riding high after their 2-1 win in Florence, where Palestra and Kılıçsoy capitalized on counterattacks and Caprile secured the win with some late saves.
- Verona has gone five league games without a win (two draws, three defeats) and conceded goals in four of them; their energy and concentration often drop off after the break.
- The absences weigh heavily: Verona lacks creativity and stability without Suslov, Mosquera, and defenders Bella Kotchap and Valentini; Cagliari has to do without Belotti, Folorunsho, and Deiola.
- In head-to-head matches, the pattern suggests close, tough games: Cagliari are unbeaten in four games since 2023, and all five of their most recent H2Hs have seen fewer than 1.5 goals at halftime.
- The betting markets also support a controlled home game: Cagliari are favored at 2.2, with a draw at 3.0; four of Cagliari’s last five games have seen fewer than 1.5 goals in the first half.
Cagliari’s midfield looks surprisingly stable at the moment, while Verona, at the bottom of the table, needs every point like a lifeline. On Saturday evening, January 31, Serie A returns to the Unipol Domus when Fabio Pisacane’s Cagliari hosts Paolo Zanetti’s Verona in Round 23. Cagliari are 12th in the table with 25 points, one point behind Sassuolo and two ahead of Genoa – a win could further consolidate their position in mid-table. Verona are 20th in the table with 14 points, level with Pisa above them, and are under considerable pressure as a result. In addition, Cagliari have been very strong against Verona here so far. Interestingly, Pisacane’s team arrives on the back of a 2-1 win at Fiorentina, a game characterized by quick transitions, in which Palestra and Kılıçsoy made the difference and Caprile scored late – a result that exceeded expectations. Zanetti, on the other hand, was punished with a 3-1 defeat in Udine despite Orbán’s equalizer, extending their winless streak. The last meeting ended 2-2; the bookmakers see Cagliari as clear favorites, but a draw is possible.
- Venue: Unipol Domus, Cagliari
- Date and time: January 31, 2026, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 23)
The bookmakers see Cagliari as the home favorite at 2.2, but a draw is still listed at 3.0. After the 2-1 win at Fiorentina, I think the hosts have a slight edge, especially since Palestra and Kılıçsoy made the difference there and Caprile remained solid despite having a lot of work to do. Verona are still without a win and will be without Suslov, Mosquera, Bella Kotchap, and Valentini, so a controlled home win combined with under 2.5 goals and both teams not scoring seems more likely.
Cagliari Form & Record Check
In Serie A, Cagliari’s last month has been marked by rapid highs and abrupt lows. They beat Fiorentina 2-1 away and followed that up with a tough 1-0 home win against Juventus, results that lift them out of immediate danger. At the same time, the 3-0 defeat in Genoa and the 1-0 loss to Milan showed how quickly control can slip away when they fall behind. Pisacane relies on compact defending and quick counterattacks, and that paid off in Florence. Palestra was outstanding, scoring once and setting up the opener for Kılıçsoy, while Capriles’ late saves protected a lead that was becoming increasingly shaky. The pattern at the start of games is also striking, with four of the last five league games seeing fewer than 1.5 goals in the first half, so Cagliari often start cautiously. Cagliari are 12th in the table with 25 points, just one point behind Sassuolo and only two ahead of Genoa, so momentum is just as important as the table. They have conceded goals in four of their last five games, highlighting the subtle differences in their current approach.
Injuries haven’t helped, with Folorunsho and Deiola missing in midfield and Belotti still out, increasing the burden on Gaetano, Mazzitelli, and Esposito.
Interestingly, Pisacane is expected to stick with a 3-5-1-1, which largely mirrors the formation that worked in the counter-attacking game against Fiorentina. The forecast sees Caprile behind Zé Pedro, Mina, and Luperto, while Palestra and Obert provide width. Gaetano should link midfield and attack, feeding Esposito in the gap behind Kılıçsoy.
Verona Form & Record Check
Verona travels to Cagliari bottom of Serie A, in 20th place with 14 points, and the table offers little consolation, even with Pisa just above them. Their form in the league is poor, with two draws and three defeats in their last five games, without a win to turn the mood around. Zanetti’s team is not being swept off the pitch every week, but they rarely dictate the game. This is evident in their recent run, with a 2-2 draw in Napoli showing fighting spirit and solid game management, followed by a 0-1 defeat to Lazio and a 2-3 loss to Bologna, where small defensive lapses were punished. The 0-0 draw at Cremonese earned a point but little impact. Most worrying was Monday’s 3-1 home defeat to Udinese, when parity was lost at crucial moments after the break. Verona have conceded at least one goal in four of their five league games, and the second half is their problem area, with energy and concentration levels dropping. Orban’s goal, set up by Sarr against Udinese, was a rare offensive highlight, as goals tend to come in short bursts rather than waves. Injuries in defense, with Bella Kotchap, Valentini, Frese, and Belghali, further weaken the structure.
Zanetti is likely to stick with his usual three center backs and a compact midfield of four, effectively a three-man defense, with Perilli likely to remain in goal. Slotsager, Nelsson, and Ebosse would form the defensive trio, with Lirola and Bradarić providing width. In midfield, Serdar and Gagliardini look like the most reliable duo. In front of them, Bernede and Kastanos could operate between the lines, behind Orban, who scored last time out and remains the main target man. With Suslov and Mosquera out and Akpa Akpro unavailable, creativity and depth are thin, and Sarr is an alternative if Verona look to run at them up front. In defense, the injuries to Bella Kotchap, Valentini, Frese, and Belghali make this predicted formation the most logical.
Cagliari – Verona Head-to-Head & Statistics
In the last five Serie A encounters, Cagliari have come out on top with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 defeat, scoring more goals than Verona, 6 to 5. Since their defeat in 2023, Cagliari are unbeaten in four direct encounters, while Verona have remained winless during this period. Three of the five encounters ended in a draw or were decided by just one goal, so the margins were often narrow. What is most striking is how quietly these games start. All five of the most recent encounters saw fewer than 1.5 goals in the first half, and four of the five ended with fewer than 2.5 goals in total. Simply put, the first 45 minutes were mostly about damage control, with clearer chances only emerging later on when spaces opened up and the tempo picked up. The second halves have more often than not gone in Cagliari’s favor. They have scored after the break in four of the five games, while Verona has conceded the same number of goals in the second half. This is consistent with games that appear evenly balanced early on and then tip in favor of one side as energy levels drop and tactical changes take effect. Verona’s only win during this period dates back to 2023. Within the last year, Cagliari won 2-0 away in April 2025, and in October 2025, the game ended 2-2, the only game here that broke the usual low-scoring pattern. At Cagliari’s stadium, the two most recent encounters, both in 2024, ended 1-0 and 1-1, underscoring how little separates them when Cagliari is the host.
