Cagliari seek a continuation of their recent upswing in Serie A when they take on Juventus at the Unipol Domus on Friday.
Claudio Ranieri's men held champions-elect Inter Milan 2-2 last time out, having beaten Atalanta 2-1 the week before, and will back themselves to stun the Old Lady in this weekend's gameweek 33 action.
Match preview
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Sardinia hosts Friday's encounter between Ranieri's side and Juventus, with the home team keen to continue the ongoing run that has seen them create separation in the relegation tussle.
Much of that has been aided by the Rossoblu's resilience in responding to setbacks in their last three matches since the 1-0 defeat to Monza in mid-March.
Cagliari won a point after falling behind to Hellas Verona at the start of April, turned around an early deficit against Atalanta to win 2-1 and twice came from a goal down to nick a point at champions-elect Inter in gameweek 32.
That puts them in good stead as they aim to avoid immediate relegation to Serie B, and their recent form has opened a four-point advantage over 18th-placed Frosinone, meaning they cannot slide into the bottom three even if Friday's game ends in defeat.
Ranieri will hope for a positive outcome for his side in Sardinia to extend their undefeated home run to five, having claimed eight points from a possible 12 at the Unipol Domus.
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Juventus aim to claim a win at Cagliari to extend their five-match winning run against the Rossoblu to six.
However, Massimiliano Allegri's men must perform at a high level to secure maximum points in Sardinia, something the Bianconeri have not done consistently since the turn of the year.
Allegri believes his side will not drop out of the Champions League places — he always maintained a return to Europe's premier club competition was the target, not Scudetto contention — but Bologna are four points adrift and fifth-placed Roma sit eight points adrift, possibly being cut to five if the Giallorossi win their outstanding game against Udinese.
While looking over their shoulder at the turn of the year would have been scoffed at if it was suggested, picking up two wins victories from 11 matches has seen the Old Lady slide in the table, giving other sides a chance of supplanting Allegri's men in the final weeks.
Nevertheless, Italy's likelihood of securing an extra Champions League slot means it would take a cataclysmic collapse and other sides taking advantage to see Juventus fall to sixth.
Supporters may not be keen on a trip to an in-form side, especially as the Turin-based club have been winless on their travels since January 21's 3-0 win at Lecce, losing three of the subsequent five on the road.
Team News
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Ranieri may have to make do without Gaetano Oristanio, Andrea Petagna, Marco Mancosu and Leonardo Pavoletti, all of whom are expected to miss out through injury on Friday.
Nicolas Viola has scored a goal each off the bench in the last two gameweeks, and the midfielder gives Cagliari an option to hurt the away side if Plan A is going awry.
Paul Pogba (doping ban) and Nicolo Fagioli (violation of betting rules) are still suspended and unavailable for Allegri's team.
Moise Kean and Arkadiusz Milik are touch-and-go for Friday, with the latter tipped to make the bench if need be.
Federico Chiesa was frustrated to come off in last weekend's Turin derby continuing his complicated relationship with Allegri. Regardless, the Italy international should start in Sardinia.
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Dossena; Nandez, Deiola, Makoumbou, Suleman, Augello; Luvumbo, Lapadula
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiasso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Vlahovic, Chiesa
We say: Cagliari 1-1 Juventus
While Cagliari head into Friday's game having lost 12 of the previous 13 matches against Juventus in Serie A, this week's encounter represents the Sardinians' best opportunity of getting some joy against Allegri's men. The spoils could be shared in gameweek 33, with the Rossoblu taking that as a point gained, even if it extends their winless run to 16 against a side starting the matchday in the top three places.
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