Lazio travel to Sardinia on Saturday afternoon aiming to inflict defeat on a Cagliari side trying to cling on to Serie A status, as the Biancocelesti look to overtake neighbours Roma in the race for automatic Champions League qualification.
While the Aquile are just one point behind the Giallorossi, Isolani coach Zdenek Zeman has a much more difficult task back at the Stadio Sant’Elia with Cagliari five points from safety.
When the pair met back in November Lazio took the spoils in a thoroughly entertaining 4-2 victory, as goals from Stefano Mauri, Ederson and Miroslav Klose (2) cancelled out strikes from Edson Braafheid and Joao Pedro.
That mirrors the slight Biancocelesti dominance against the Rossoblu during the last 10 seasons, with 11 victories to Cagliari’s five, but it is essential the Isolani add to that number if they wish to extend their stay in Serie A.
Although winning this fixture at the Stadio Sant’Elia as recently as May 2013 with a Daniele Dessena header, it was the final match of the 2012-13 season and the visitors have much more to play for now.
After impressively brushing aside AC Milan in January consecutive defeats to Cesena and Genoa looked to have blunted Aquile hopes of Champions League football.
Since then Stefano Pioli’s men have been unstoppable, recording six wins on the trot in Serie A – conceding just once in the process – with Felipe Anderson continuing this term’s stunning form.
In contrast it has been a season to forget for Cagliari despite some positive performances, if not results, under coach Zeman at the beginning of the campaign.
The 67-year-old was replaced by Gianfranco Zola in December, but were only able to win just two matches under the former striker’s stewardship.
That saw the two men switch roles once more in early March, but Zeman’s return is yet to provide the desired effect, though, yielding just one point from three games.
The Isolani cannot even point to a lengthy injury list for their failings this season, Marco Capuano is the only man set to miss the game through injury, although Luca Ceppitelli will be suspended.
For Lazio, Filip Djordjevic remains on the sidelines after fracturing his ankle against Milan.
Form Guide: Cagliari (L-L-L-D-L) Lazio (W-D-W-W-W)
Expected Starting XIs
Cagliari: Brkic; Balzano, Rossettini, Diakite, Avelar; Ekdal, Crisetig, Joao Pedro; Farias, Sau, Mpoku
Lazio: Marchetti; Basta, De Vrij, Mauricio, Radu; Biglia, Parola; Candreva, Mauri, Anderson; Klose
