Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute text commentary of the Serie A clash between Cagliari and Juventus. It pits a team fighting for their second successive Scudetto against a side struggling for survival, and you can follow all the action live here on this page.

Heading into tonight’s encounter, Juventus find themselves at the top of the table with 41 points from 17 matches, seven points clear of Inter Milan, who are second.

On the other hand, Cagliari are struggling against the drop and are just a point above the relegation zone.

Team news coming up now...

CAGLIARI XI: Agazzi; Pisano, Astori, Ariaudo, Murru; Dessena, Nainggolan, Ekdal; Thiago Ribeiro; Pinilla, Sau

JUVENTUS XI: Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Caceres; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella, Giovinco

So the big team news for Juventus is that Martin Caceres starts in defence. He will replace Giorgio Chiellini, who is out with a calf muscle injury and could be out for three months.

Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal continue to be the three midfielders for Antonio Conte’s side, who will have Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco in attack.

Cagliari may be the home side tonight, but the match will be played at Parma's Stadio Ennio Tardini, nearly 500 miles away from the Stadio Is Arenas, which failed safety checks on Wednesday. Wonder whether Cagliari will have any ‘home advantage’ tonight.

Of course, this being Italy Cagliari have been quick to pin the blame on Juventus for the moving of the match to Parma. Cagliari president Massimo Cellino said on Sky Sport Italia: “I feel a deep sense of shame and embarrassment, having done everything possible to give this stadium to the team and to Sardinia. The local council authorised the game to go ahead, so if Juventus had agreed then we would’ve played in Cagliari. It is their right and they showed they are happier to play in Parma. We had to organise everything for this match in the space of 24 hours.”

Cellino added: “We hope that justice exists in football. We thought it was a privilege not to be involved, with players or coaches, in any scandals and having balanced books despite no stars on our shirts. We are proud of our club. The Sardinians evidently have a defect, which is to respect the laws and not just do anything we want.”

Cagliari are without captain Daniele Conti, who is serving a suspension, while defender Sebastian Eriksson is out injured for tonight’s match. Yet coach Ivo Pulga is confident of winning tonight. He told La Repubblica: “There is only one way to deal with Juventus and that is not to submit to them. If you hole up near your own goal sooner or later you will concede a goal. We have to play an open game and match them blow for blow. I'm sorry for all the fans that were hoping to come to the game. Their support would have given us a big hand."

Juventus will be firm favourites to win tonight. The defending Italian champions have dropped just eight points in the defence of their title so far this season and have lost just once away from home in the league.

However, Conte is not taking the match lightly. He said on Thursday: “We have great respect for the team we face, but we don't fear anyone."

On the other hand, Cagliari have not won in their last six matches and are on a run of four successive defeats.

Just five minutes to kickoff at Stadio Ennio Tardini in the Serie A clash between Cagliari and Juventus. It promises to be an interesting game with a few goals - probably from Juve.

The players are getting ready to come out on the pitch, as proceedings will start in a matter of minutes. I predict a 3-1 win for Juventus tonight!

And Cagliari kick off proceedings in the first half...

A bright start to the match and somewhat surprisingly, the home side earn a corner in the opening minute. However, they fail to create anything productive from the set piece as the Bianconeri clear it away with ease.

Cagliari press again and once more Gianluigi Buffon has to collect the ball as it drops over the top. Nothing to worry about for Juventus, though.

First hint of an attack from Juventus as Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco try to connect, but their interplay is cut short.

Stephan Lichtsteiner now crosses the ball from the right dangerously into the Cagliari penalty box, but Davide Astori timely intercepts and clears the ball away. The visitors are getting into the groove now after Cagliari’s high pressing game in the opening minutes.

Juventus earn their first corner of the match as Kwadwo Asamoah’s cross from the left is blocked, but the ball goes out for a corner.

CHANCE! Two half-chances there for Juventus. Andrea Pirlo’s corner is cleared away only as far as an onrushing Claudio Marchisio, whose shot from outside the area is blocked. However, the Bianconeri keep the ball in play and Pirlo gets past two defenders on the left but fails to continue his stride and is eventually dispossessed.

Ten minutes gone in Parma and it is goalless between Cagliari and Juventus. It has been a relatively quiet start to the match and we have yet to see a genuine chance for either side.

Oh, Marchisio almost set up Quagliarella for a shot on goal! Giovinco plays a one-touch pass to his Italian compatriot inside the Cagliari penalty box, and Marchisio then decides to pass the ball to Quagliarella instead of shooting on goal himself. His intention is selfless and noble, but it is intercepted and the home side avert any danger.

It will be interesting to note that although Cagliari are technically the ‘home’ side, Juventus have more fans inside the stadium.

PENALTY! Cagliari are given a penalty. Arturo Vidal is adjudged to have brought down Marco Sau.

As easy as you like. Mauricio Pinilla steps up to take the penalty and blasts it past a helpless Buffon 1-0 to Cagliari, but the big question is whether the spot kick should have been given. It looked like Sau made a meal of the challenge on him by Vidal.

CHANCE! Juventus reply almost immediately, as Asamoah plays a lovely cross across the face of the Cagliari penalty box; but there is no one in a Juventus shirt to tuck it home just a few yards from goal.

Juventus have gone up a gear now and are pressing on their hosts. Coach Antonio Conte will be disappointed with the penalty that was given a few minutes back, but he should not be pressing the panic button.

YELLOW CARD Lorenzo Ariaudo becomes the first player to be cautioned in this match for his rash challenge on Sebastian Giovinco in midfield.

Free kick to Juventus now, around 35 yards from goal. Pirlo will take it... Can he make it 1-1?

No, the Italian playmaker cannot. He fails to get his shot over the wall, but Juventus continue to maintain possession. However, they concede it as Stephan Lichtsteiner’s shot from the right side of the Cagliari penalty area is awkward and goes out for a goal kick.

The match has burst into life since Cagliari scored their penalty, as Juventus continue their search for the equaliser. Their hosts are not sitting back and soaking the pressure - they are actually making all attempts to take the game to the Bianconeri and are looking for breaks in the midfield.

YELLOW CARD Arturo Vidal becomes the first Juventus player to be cautioned this evening for his challenge on Mauricio Pinilla.

YELLOW CARD Another player goes into the referee’s book. It is Cagliari defender Nicola Murru for his tackle on Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Giovinco goes for a first-time volley as the ball falls to him inside the Cagliari penalty box, but his attempt does not trouble Michael Agazzi at all.

CHANCE! Fabio Quagliarella goes close for Juventus as he is sent through on goal by Leonardo Bonucci with a long ball, but his left-footed shot from the centre of box sails over the Cagliari crossbar.

It is all Juventus at the moment. The game is being played virtually entirely in Cagliari’s half of the pitch. Giovinco is looking very lively and pacy down the left and down the middle, but the home side are holding on strongly at the back. It is proving to be an intriguing encounter in Parma.

We have 10 minutes of normal time left in the first half. Cagliari lead Juventus 1-0, thanks to Pinilla’s controversial penalty in the 16th minute. However, the Bianconeri are all over their hosts and look to be edging closer to an equaliser. They are missing the final killer ball, though.

YELLOW CARD The game is getting a bit ‘dirty’. Giovinco is at the end of another dangerous tackle from Cagliari, this time from Davide Astori, who is duly shown the yellow card.

Astori could have been in trouble there. Quagliarella is sent through on goal by a long ball and goes under a challenge from the Cagliari defender inside the penalty box. The ball goes out of play for a goal kick and the referee deems that Astori did nothing wrong in that challenge.

Brilliant play from Radja Nainggolan again. The Cagliari midfielder once again collects the ball inside his own half and averts a danger. He has looked very strong holding the fort for the home side and is also trying to push his team forward.

Conte will be frustrated with his side’s first-half performance. Juve have had 58% of the possession so far, most of that was inside the Cagliari area. However, they simply cannot manufacture a way past a tightly held and desperately willing Cagliari defence.

CHANCE! Well, two half-chances really inside a minute for Juventus. First Lichsteiner’s cross for Giovinco is cleared away just in time and then his attempt is cleared away.

CHANCE! Pirlo! The Juventus midfielder swings a shot at the Cagliari goal from outside the penalty area, but Agazzi makes a comfortable save.

It is half-time at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma and Cagliari lead defending Italian champions and current Serie A leaders 1-0. Mauricio Pinilla’s penalty in the 16th minute is the difference between the two teams at the moment.

The penalty decision was a controversial one, to be honest. There was contact between Arturo Vidal and Mauricio Pinilla, but the Cagliari forward probably made the most of it. Since then Juve have been pressing on for the equaliser and the home side have been holding on bravely and resolutely.

Let’s take a look at the stats now. Cagliari have had just one shot on target and that resulted in a goal. They have picked up three yellow cards, have had just 42% of the possession and Michael Agazzi had to make just one save.

As for Juventus, they too have had one shot on target, 58% of the possession and Gianluigi Buffon has yet to make a save.

The second-half action will start in a matter of minutes, as the two sets of players are now on the pitch.

And here we go again, with Juventus kicking off proceedings in the second half.

Cagliari on the attack in the opening minute of the first half, as Radja Nainggolan tries to create confusion inside the Juventus penalty box but in vain.

CHANCE! Two chances in a minute for Juventus! First Lichsteiner’s cross across the face of the goal is cleared away by Astori and then Marchisio forces Agazzi into making a brilliant save.

Oh, good defending from Caceres, who puts a stop to Albin Ekdal’s plan to launch a counterattack for Cagliari. The Uruguayan has looked comfortable and in control tonight.

Not so much control from the two teams as tensions and frustrations are threatening to boil. A foul on Vidal by Ekdal outside the Cagliari penalty box appears to create a brawl between the two sets of players, but the referee makes sure that it does not go out of his control.

SUBSTITUTION A change for Cagliari in the early minutes of the second half. Gabriele Perico replaces Nicola Murru.

YELLOW CARD Stephan Lichtsteiner is shown the yellow card for Juventus for his challenge on Sau.

What a pacy start to the second half - absolutely breathtaking! There have been loads of fouls so far but Juventus continue to hold momentum. Yet they are trailing 1-0.

YELLOW CARD Another player is cautioned, this time it is Daniele Dessena for his challenge on Sebastian Giovinco. I would be surprised if the game finishes with 22 players on the pitch. And, I am taking a shot here, Giovinco might be the most fouled player this evening!

CHANCE! SAU! That came out of nowhere, as he got away from Leonardo Bonucci and took an attempt at the top corner. But Buffon was alert to it and made a good save.

YELLOW CARD Surprise, surprise - another player goes into the referee’s book. Francesco Pisano’s bad challenge on Stephan Lichtsteiner earns him a yellow card.

SUBSTITUTION Juventus make their first change of the evening. Fabio Quagliarella is replaced by Alessandro Matri.

SUBSTITUTION Another change for Juventus. Simone Padoin comes on for Martin Caceres. This is a tactical change - Padoin will go wide and Lichtsteiner will drop back.

BAR! What chaos inside the Cagliari penalty box! First Bonucci heads a corner against the Cagliari crossbar, then Matri’s shot from the rebound is saved by Agazzi and Asamoah then heads the ball just wide. Juventus players are complaining for a penalty, but in vain.

RED CARD! Davide Astori is sent off for Cagliari for a second bookable offence! His foul on Giovinco earns him his second yellow of the game. Cagliari down to 10 men now.

CHANCE! Padoin volleys a Vidal pass but it goes wide. Juve in control of the proceedings.

PENALTY! Juventus are given a penalty, as Giovinco is adjudged to have been brought down by Del Fabro.

PENALTY MISS! Vidal blasts his spot kick high and wide! Oh, what a miss that was and what a chance Juventus have squandered to score the equaliser.

SUBSTITUTION Meanwhile, Mirko Vucinic has come on for Stephan Lichtsteiner.

And finally Juventus reap dividends of all their pressure they have exerted on Cagliari since going behind in the 16th minute. Vucinic finds himself with the ball inside the area and forces a save from Agazzi with his first touch of the game, but the rebound falls to Alessandro Matri, who taps in from just yards out.

CHANCE! Matri goes close again, as he takes a ferocious attempt on the Cagliari goal from just inside the area and pulls out another good save from Agazzi. This game is on fire!

What a game this has turned out to be in the second half! It has been absolutely breathtaking and intense, and there are no moments whatsoever to catch my breath! Cagliari are still battling on for a point with 10 men, as Juventus continue to pour forward for the winner.

Juventus should actually have been 2-1 up by now, to be honest. If only Arturo Vidal had not skied his penalty in the 72nd minute...

CHANCE! Vucinic! Sensational play from the Montenegrin forward, as he befuddles a number of Cagliari defenders on the edge of the area, creates space for himself and then shoots. But he fails to keep his attempt on target.

Five minutes of normal time remain. I would expect at least three minutes of injury time to be awarded at the end of it.

Vucinic once again tries for goal with a curling effort from the left side of the Cagliari penalty box, but Agazzi makes a good save.

The Bianconeri continue to press on, this time Asamoah floating in a cross from the left side that the home side eventually clear away with ease.

CHANCE! INCREDIBLE SAVE FROM AGAZZI! He keeps out a point-blank header from Asamoah and turns it on to the post, before poking it out further with his leg. That was the save of the season in Serie A!

MATRI! Oh, what a miss! He turns away from his marker inside the Cagliari penalty area and then tries to shoot on the turn, only to miss the ball completely.

Six minutes of injury time have been awarded here.

Alessandro Matri makes it 2-1 to Juventus in the second minute of injury time, and once again it is smeared with controversy. The ball falls to Matri inside the Cagliari penalty area and he slots home with ease. However, it may have struck the hand of Vidal on its way.

We still have two minutes of injury time to be played in Parma. Juventus lead Cagliari 2-1 and are inching towards maximum points that would see them go 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A table.

That is it, then, the cherry on the cake. Giovinco is the creator of the goal as he gallops down the left flank, receives a pass and then shoots on goal that was left empty by an onrushing Agazzi. Vucinic just taps the ball in from a couple of yards to make it 3-2 to Juventus.

It’s all over at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma as Juventus have defeated 10-man Cagliari 3-1 to go 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A table. Trailing 1-0 to a controversial penalty from Mauricio Pinilla in the first half, the Bianconeri scored all three goals late in the game.

Second-half substitute Alessandro Matri equalised in the 75th minute and then made it 2-1 in the second minute of injury time. Mirko Vucinic ascertained the points three minutes later with a simple tap-in. All this after Arturo Vidal has blasted high and wide his penalty for the visitors in the 72nd minute.

I hope that you enjoyed the coverage of what proved to be a breathtaking Serie A encounter between Cagliari and Juventus here on Sports Mole. Have a good night, it’s goodbye from me for now.