The Matchday 26 Serie A fixture between Cagliari Calcio and Lazio is scheduled for 21 February at the Sardegna Arena. Cagliari Calcio vs Lazio: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Cagliari Calcio
After beating Juventus in Matchday 21, the home team built on that success and recorded two more consecutive wins. It seemed as though Cagliari Calcio had finally found some consistency, but that impression proved deceptive. In the following two matches, Fabio Pisacane’s side lost twice by the same 2:0 scoreline, with the most painful result a home defeat to one of the league’s strugglers, Lecce, in the previous round. Overall this season, the club have produced average numbers at both ends of the pitch, scoring 1.22 goals and conceding 1.35 per game on average.
At least two goals were scored in eight of Cagliari Calcio’s last 10 league matches.
At the Sardegna Arena, the club have scored in six of their last eight Serie A matches.
In five of the Sardinian side’s last six matches in this competition, at least one team failed to score.
Potential Cagliari Calcio Lineup (3-5-2)*
Elia Caprile – Juan Rodriguez, Alberto Dossena, Ze Pedro – Adam Obert, Luca Mazzitelli, Gianluca Gaetano, Michel Ndary Adopo, Marco Palestra – Sebastiano Esposito, Semih Kilicsoy.
Forwards Gennaro Borrelli and Andrea Belotti, as well as midfielders Gianluca Gaetano, Mattia Felici and Michael Folorunsho, will miss the match due to injuries.
Lazio
The away team lost 2:0 to Atalanta in the last round. Lazio have produced uncharacteristic results this season: in their last 10 league matches, they have managed just two wins (five draws, three defeats). Across 25 games, Maurizio Sarri’s side have been fairly balanced, scoring 26 and conceding 25, with no obvious skew towards attack or defence. Although Lazio have never been considered one of the unquestioned giants of Italian football, they have often been viewed as solid mid-table operators. However, the club are clearly going through a difficult spell, sitting only ninth in the Serie A, and their chances of reaching the European places are fading fast, with a nine-point gap to that zone.
At least two goals were scored in seven of the club’s previous nine Serie A matches.
Across their last 10 league games, Lazio have recorded only two wins (five draws, three defeats).
In eight of their last nine away matches in this competition, the visitors have not scored more than once.
Potential Lazio Lineup (4-3-3)*
Marco Carnesecchi – Berat Djimsiti, Giorgio Scalvini, Sead Kolasinac – Nicola Zalewski, Mario Pasalic, Lazar Samardzic, Davide Zappacosta – Giacomo Raspadori, Ederson, Nikola Krstovic.
Defenders Mario Gila, Manuel Lazzari and Samuel Gigot, forwards Mattia Zaccagni and Pedro Rodriguez, and midfielder Toma Basic will miss the match due to injuries.
Referee
Antonio Rapuano (Italy)
Matches – 18 (Serie A, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 83;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.6;
Red cards shown – 4;
Fouls per match on average – 28;
Penalties – 22%.
Cagliari Calcio vs Lazio: Match Prediction
If we look at the outcomes of the Rome side’s recent games, it can feel as though things are not too bad. Yes, they dropped points at home to Atalanta, but they did not lose to the Turin side, they beat Genoa, and they got past Bologna in the Coppa Italia. However, if we pay attention to how Fabio Pisacane’s men play the final half-hour of matches, it becomes clear they are effectively handing victories to the opposition. For instance, against the Turin side, despite leading by two goals by the 59th minute, the game ended in a draw. A similar situation occurred against Genoa: up to the 67th minute Lazio were 2:0 up, but by the 75th minute the Genoese had drawn level – all of which underlines issues with concentration and the players’ mental resilience in the closing stages. On top of that, the prospect of ending the season without a trophy and missing out on next season’s Champions League is clearly not acceptable to the club’s hierarchy.
Despite two poor recent matchdays in which Cagliari Calcio failed to score, the team’s attacking numbers have been decent. This season, the club have created 1.11 xG per game on average. Yes, that figure is fairly middling, but it is worth factoring in Lazio’s weak performances in recent matches. Since Fabio Pisacane’s side have not scored in their last two matches (2:0 defeats to Lecce and the Rome side), this upcoming game is a chance to make amends in front of their supporters. It is also worth noting the club have scored in six of their previous eight home Serie A matches. In light of the above, we can assume Cagliari Calcio will find the net in this match as well.
Prediction: Cagliari Calcio, over 0.5 goals
* For each team, the starting XI listed is the lineup from their previous match in this competition.
