Hopeless Cagliari low hanging fruit in Turin
Juventus host Cagliari in looking to keep the pressure on Serie A’s top four going into the winter break. Massimiliano Allegri has struggled in the first half of the campaign results wise, but the Old Lady in the last month or so have demonstrated that they are capable of competing for trophies and overcoming the six point gap to Atalanta in fourth place. Cagliari have endured a terrible first 18 games of the season where they have picked up just ten points and only won once. The visitors are fortunate not to be dead and buried given that points return, and a trip to Turin is an intimidating prospect one game away from the season’s halfway stage.
Process
It has been a top heavy league this season and Juve have been very good defensively but have not been able to gain the consistency needed to force their way into the Champions League qualification spots. Allegri’s men sit second for defensive process, conceding just 17 from 16.6 expected goals (xG) at an average of 0.92 xGA per game. If the hosts can sustain that process in the second half of the campaign they will come very close to spoiling the party inside the top quartet.
Cagliari narrowly avoided relegation last season and it appears that they are giving themselves even more work to do this time around. Somehow, with just one win all season, they are only three points from safety and despite having Diego Godin they have the worst defensive process in the division. Going forward Cagliari rank 18th, so still a relegation process with January presenting an opportunity to try and give themselves a glimmer of hope. Juve are much the better side in this encounter, where the gap has been a lot slimmer in years gone by.
Goals?
Not my selection with Cagliari’s struggles in front of goal, the Asian Handicap gives us value on getting the Old Lady onside.
- Juve have scored in eight of ten.
- Juve have conceded in four of ten.
- Juve have seen both teams score in two of ten.
- Juve have seen over 2.5 goals in two of ten.
- Cagliari have scored in six of ten.
- Cagliari have conceded in nine of ten.
- Cagliari have seen both teams score in six of ten.
- Cagliari have seen over 2.5 goals in six of ten.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
2-0 Juve, we take a half win.