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

Salernitana and Cagliari, two of this season's three winless sides in Serie A, face off in round nine's action at the Arechi Stadium.

The Granata sacked Paulo Sousa after a 3-0 loss at Monza before the international break, while Claudio Ranieri remains in the job despite a fourth consecutive loss for the league's new boys.

Match preview

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Salernitana's fifth loss in Serie A this season provoked a managerial change at the Arechi, with Filippo Inzaghi replacing Sousa on October 10.

The second-bottom outfit have underwhelmed at both ends of the pitch — the Granata have the third-worst attacking record with four goals scored and 17 conceded outranks everyone else in the division.

Inzaghi has to find solutions to the team's inadequacies in both boxes, and the international break has theoretically given the AC Milan icon time to get some of his ideas across.

Last season ended with a seven-game undefeated run (four wins), demonstrating Salernitana's capabilities at the Arechi when they are at their best.

A win in his first game will be just what the doctor ordered, but Inzaghi knows it will be far from straightforward on Sunday.

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Cagliari should go into this weekend's clash fancying themselves to claim maximum points for the first time since returning to the division.

An inspired Roma dispatched Ranieri's men with ease before the two-week hiatus, giving the 2016 Premier League-winning manager time to prepare for round nine's game.

The cellar-dwelling visitors have netted one goal in four away games, losing three in a row with seven goals conceded in defeats at Bologna (2-1), Atalanta BC (2-0) and Fiorentina (3-0).

Those games have been against far more coherent sides, and the experienced Rossoblu boss will hope his side fare better against a team at a similar technical level.

Cagliari's last visit to the Arechi in May 2022 ended 1-1, a typical result for the hosts whose wont to draw games is arguably unmatched.

Team News

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Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi is doubtful for Salernitana, while Vincenzo Fiorillo is expected to be absent until the start of next month.

A formation change is anticipated by Inzaghi, who could lean on a 4-3-2-1, moving away from several variations of Sousa's back three.

Pantelis Chatzidiakos, Gianluca Lapadula and Marko Rog are all not expected to participate on Sunday, with their injuries ruling them out until November.

Zito Luvumbo is doubtful, thus making the forward touch and go for this weekend's game.

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Ochoa; Mazzocchi, Gyomber, Pirola, Bradaric; Coulibaly, Bohinen, Martegani; Cancreva, Cabral; Dia

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Scuffet; Wieteska, Dossena, Obert; Zappa, Nandez, Makoumbou, Prati, Azzi; Petagna, Oristanio

We say: Salernitana 2-1 Cagliari

While a draw will not surprise, the new-manager bounce and home advantage could see Salernitana edge Cagliari at the Arechi on Sunday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.