Posted on Sunday, 5th February 2012 by Sumeet Paul

Emiliano Mondonico’s start to life at ended in defeat in mid-week, with his side falling to a 2-1 home defeat against Chievo. Ivan Radovanovic is suspended, while Carlo Alberto Ludi, Matteo Centurioni and Takayuki Morimoto are all injured. will be hoping to end a run of five straight defeats, having now fallen to bottom of the table, seven points adrift of safety. The Biancoazzurri have won just two games all season, both at home, and will be desperate to add to that this weekend.

boss Davide Ballardini will be without influential playmaker Andrea Cossu who is suspended, while Nene, Rui Sampaio and Eriksson are all sidelined with injury. Despite their 4-2 win over Roma in mid-week, average just a goal a game,  but will be confident of improving that statistic against a Novara side who have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have the worst defensive record in Serie A.

Probable Line-Ups:

Novara (3-5-2): Ujkani, Morganella, Paci, Rinaudo, Lisuzzo, Gemiti, Jensen, Pesce, Rigoni, Mascara, Caracciolo

Subs; Fontana, Dellafiore, Porcari, Marianini, Mazzarini, Jeda, Rubino

Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Agazzi, Pisano, Canini, Astori, Agostini, Dessena, Conti, Nainggolan, Thiago Ribiero, Ibarbo, Pinilla

Subs; Avramov, Ariaudo, Perico, Ekdal, Ceppelini, El Kabir, Larrivey

Form Guide:

Novara: LLLLL

08/01/12 – Novara 0-3 Fiorentina

15/01/12 – Cesena 3-1 Novara

22/01/12 – Novara 0-3 Milan

29/01/12 – Palermo 2-0 Novara

02/02/12 – Novara 1-2 Chievo

Cagliari: WLDDW

08/01/12 – Cagliari 3-0 Genoa

15/01/12 – Juventus 1-1 Cagliari

22/01/12 – Cagliari 0-0 Fiorentina

29/01/12 – Milan 3-0 Cagliari

01/02/12 – Cagliari 4-2 Roma

Top Scorers:

Novara;

Rigoni – 6

Morimoto – 3

Cagliari;

Thiago Ribiero – 4

Conti – 3

Assists:

Novara;

Rigoni – 5

Mazzarini – 2

Cagliari;

Cossu – 4

Conti – 3

Head-to-Head:

17/09/11 – Cagliari 2-1 Novara