Cagliari-Atalanta and the 3 points

By: Jeremy | March 18th, 2008

From a fans perspective a mid week game is great. What could be better then meeting up at the Stadio Saint Elia on a Wednesday night to see some friends, enjoy some cold beverages, and cheer on your club?

This is a game where the Rossoblu desperately needs the support of the locals. They are getting rare back to back home matches and are coming off a fairly impressive win over Torino so they need to keep it going against Atalanta and the fans need to show up. With wins at home being all but automatic followed by the predictable road loss, momentum and a chance for safety are lost as quickly as it is gained for Cagliari. If not for a dreaded first half, this kind of recent play would be acceptable but if they are to survive to play another year in Serie A, expectations have to be higher and back to back home games must be won. Torino was a great start.

Things are now going to be tougher however as we welcome Atalanta to Sardinia for this rounds mid week clash. Atalanta is fighting for a UEFA Cup spot and will come to Sardinia trying to get some points to solidify their position. They are playing well and will be better then Torino and Genoa have proven to be in their recent travels to face Cagliari. This is the first game of what will be a pretty brutal schedule so since it is vital to get this home win, even against a team that is clearly better. Two wins in a row, even if they are at home, will be a great confidence booster for this team and maybe it will help get some results against teams they should lose to in the next few weeks.

Atalanta is coming off an impressive 4-1 home win against hapless Empoli but what gives Cagliari hope is that just a week before the boys from Bergamo lost on the road to Torino. Hopefully the home and away form follows these clubs this week allowing Cagliari to take the three points. Atalanta will likely play the same players that scored four goals against Empoli.

Cagliari is showing they can score at home with the new attacking style Ballardini has slowly adapted. Jeda has been working with a single striker and it seems to be working allowing for the midfield to be controlled on a more consistent basis. Robert Acquafresca is the new hero of Cagliari and with his recent goal scoring form,it would be a shock if he does not put atleast one on the board on Wednesday. He is currently more of a threat to score then the entire team was the first half of the year. With Storari playing like a stud in goal, this team is capable of winning against every team not in the Champions League positions.

Acquafresca refused a callup to Polands national team for 2008 today(his Polish mother allows him to play for Poland instead of Italy if he chooses)and he did it with such confidence that he almost expects to be in the senior Italian national team very soon. He could be like Christian Vieri was in his prime come World Cup 2010 and will likely be playing a significant role in Italys team at that time. The question now is can his sudden emergence, combined with Storaris goalkeeping, save this team from relegation and which big club will he be playing for next year? Although he is half owned by Inter, Cagliari owns the other half. Hopefully Cellino will not sell his rights next year and with Inter so talented, they might allow him one more year in Sardinia if Cagliari can survive.

One concern is that Foggia again looks to be out of the lineup. Why he is not playing to me is crazy. If he is not fit, someone needs to help motivate him as he is crucial to Cagliaris survival. If Ballardini simply does not like him, he needs to set aside his personal issues and get the kid in the lineup. I assume he will be available as a sub, but he needs to be playing the full 90 as the level of competition will be increasing in these vital final weeks and he is needed like him or not.

The last game between these two teams was a 2-2 tie so I expect there to be some scoring in this game. You have to think that Cagliari can win this match if for no other reason then they are at home and their recent home form is almost perfect. Atalanta is not immune to the sorry play that seems to affect most road teams. With the motivation of surivival also amping up Cagliaris play slightly, I have to believe this is a match Cagliari will win.

Prediction 2-1 Cagliari.

With precious points in such demand, Cagliari is desperately waiting for a decision from the football federation regarding the docked three points. The decision has been postponed again, but the decision should come by the end of the month. The federation expected Cagliari to tank after they were docked, but instead they have kept safety in their sight and deals are hopefully being made to get the three points reinstated. Whether they are given back after a big win or a disappointing loss, it will immediately improve the morale of this team and get them that much closer to safety. If they arent returned, the team still believes they can make up the points, especially with some of the other relegation candidates playing so poorly.

Cagliari fans this is another vital game and your support is a must. Lets get these three points and keep the momentum going at home before we hit the road and we know what the road does to this team and its fans.

Forza Cagliari!!