Newly-promoted side Cagliari Calcio (6-9-2, 20 points) will look to snap a three-game winless slide as they face fellow lowly squad US Sassuolo Calcio (5-10-2, 17 points) at the Stadio Comunale Sant'Elia on Thursday, Dec. 22 in a 2016-2017 Serie A season match.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Cagliari is struggling at the moment after being winless in five of their last six outings, which includes four losses. The team is currently in the 15th spot of the 20-team Italian top flight table, 11 points above the bottom three relegation area.
Gli Isolani is coming off an embarrassing 0-2 blanking in the hands of another lowly club, Empoli, on the road at the Stadio Carlo Castellani last Saturday, as per ESPN.
Empoli forward Levan Mchedlidze netted the two goals in the contest during the eighth and 72nd minutes to hand head coach Massimo Rastelli's side their second straight defeat. It was also the second consecutive shutout loss for the Sardinians after they were thrashed by Napoli in the previous round, 0-5.
Meanwhile, Sassuolo is also reeling right now with a two-game losing skid. The team has also won only once in their last six games to settle one spot and three points below Cagliari in the overall standings.
Head coach Eusebio Di Francesco's squad was nipped by contending squad Inter Milan, 0-1, in their most recent fixture last Sunday held at their own home field of Mapei Stadium-Città del Tricolore, Goal reported.
After a goalless first half of play, Italian midfielder Antonio Candreva scored the lone goal of the match for the visitors two minutes after the restart with a right-footed shot from the center of the box off an assist by Inter captain Mauro Icardi.
Inter then lost Felipe Melo two minutes into stoppage time as the Brazilian midfielder was sent off after getting booked with a second yellow card.
However, Sassuolo was not able to recover from their setback and conceded the one-goal win to I Nerazzurri.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a close 1-0 win by Cagliari.
Cagliari starting lineup (4-3-1-2 formation): Storari; Pisacane, Alves, Isla, Ceppitelli; Farias, Moras, Dessena; Padoin; Melchiorri, Sau
Sassuolo starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Consigli; Dell'Orco, Acerbi, Antei, Lirola; Pellegrini, Mazzitelli, Sensi; Ragusa, Ricci, Defrel