Cagliari vs SPAL Predictions

After a tough start, it seems like Cagliari’s big summer has started to pay off. The hosts were beaten in their first two games, but they are unbeaten since. That fine form has put them into the top seven, which leaves them far clear of SPAL and the rest of the sides in a relegation battle. The visitors have struggled in each of their seasons since coming up, while current form suggests this season will go the same way.

Cagliari are hopeful of sneaking into a European spot after a few big-name arrivals, with Radja Nainggolan and Nahitan Nandez expected to pay off this term. However, we’re seeing plenty from Cagliari’s old guard, including playmaker Joao Pedro, who has three goals to his name this term. His highest total for a full season is the seven goals he scored last term.

Meanwhile, SPAL continue to operate on very limited resources, having narrowly avoided the drop thanks to late bursts of form in the last two seasons. Each time they follow up a good late-season run with a poor start, with this term brining five defeats in seven for the visitors. It’s tough for a side like SPAL, who lost players in the summer after they impressed in their late winning run. Now they are aiming to rebuild without top-flight resources, which has left them looking a little light.

SPAL are having a tough time on the road this season, with three defeats from three. They’ve lost their last four league trips in total, while last season saw them beaten in 11 of their 19 away matches overall. That poor return has left SPAL as the outsiders here, especially given that they meet Cagliari just as the hosts are getting their act together.

While Cagliari have made improvements, their record against the lower sides wasn’t an issue which needed to be improved. The hosts won six of their seven clashes with bottom eight sides at home last term. Meanwhile, outside of the bottom five SPAL’s away trips last term brought just seven points from a possible 42. We think the hosts are vulnerable after losing three of their last four, while Cagliari come here on a high.

Cagliari are unbeaten in their five Serie A home games against SPAL (W4 D1) – against no other team they’ve faced 5+ times do they have a better points-per-game ratio at home (2.6). That has us siding with the hosts here, while Cagliari have scored at least twice in each of their last five meetings with SPAL. Given that record, we are backing a home win in this clash, along with a 2-0 correct score prediction.