Preview: Bologna vs. Cagliari - prediction, team news, lineups

Bologna and Cagliari meet at the Sardegna Arena on Monday evening with both clubs having recorded back-to-back defeats in Serie A.

While the home side have remained in the mid-table positions, the visitors are bottom of the standings after losing six of their 10 fixtures.

Match preview

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Bologna have suffered some demoralising defeats this season, the latest coming on Thursday as leaders Napoli cruised to a 3-0 vivctory.

Nevertheless, while Sinisa Mihajlovic's side have been left with the second-worst defensive record in the division, there is still a feeling that they have the potential to feature in the top half of the table.

Less than a month has passed since their terrific 3-0 triumph against Lazio, while they took AC Milan to the brink last weekend despite playing with nine men for over half-an-hour.

Although Mihajlovic will take nothing for granted, the schedule now opens up for I Rossoblu and they will believe that they can make quick headway up the standings.

Despite failing to contribute at Napoli, Musa Barrow still has four goals and three assists from his most recent seven outings.

The inconsistencies of the clubs above them has meant that Cagliari only remain three points adrift of safety in Italy's top flight.

However, Walter Mazzarri's team could have moved out of the drop zone last time out, Gli Isolani leading Roma into the final quarter before the visitors finished strongly.

Despite the lingering frustration, Mazzarri will take the positives from that performance as his looks to improve on a dismal away return of one point and 11 goals conceded from four matches.

Cagliari are also still looking to end a long run of matches without a clean sheet, that streak having been extended to 11 contests.

Team News

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Roberto Soriano and Adama Soumaoro should both return to the Bologna XI after serving suspensions in midweek.

With Marko Arnautovic also in a position to feature, Ibrahima Mbaye, Riccardo Orsolini and Emanuel Vignato may drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Mazzarri may decide to stick with the 3-5-2 formation which worked for the opening 70 minutes against Roma.

While a switch to a 4-4-2 remains a possibility, Alberto Grassi could retain his place in the centre of midfield.

Leonardo Pavoletti should also get the nod ahead of Keita Balde having found the back of the net in the last game.

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Soumaoro, Medel, Theate; Silvestri, Dominguez, Schouten, Hickey; Barrow, Soriano; Arnautovic

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Cragno; Zappa, Ceppitelli, Carboni; Bellanova, Deiola, Grassi, Marin, Lykogiannis; Pedro, Pavoletti

We say: Bologna 2-1 Cagliari

Despite the decreasing belief in both camps, we feel that this could be an entertaining fixture. While Cagliari should pose some problems for their hosts, Bologna will be motivated to bounce back from their setback against the leaders.