Cagliari-Inter

By: Jeremy | May 22nd, 2009

After last weeks loss to Reggina, combined with what seemed obvious in that Acquafresca is now headed to Genoa, I was not in the mood to write much as the season has essentially come to an end.

While I would like to think last weekends loss to the last place team in Serie A was based more upon the Saturday results which essentially eliminated Cagliari from Europe and Regginas stepped up play as they try to survive, it was imply a let down. This was the latest result where we gave away points and with too many of these coming recently, even a slight dip in form takes the team out of Europe.

That being said, with two games left it is nice to not have to face relegation and analyze what the other bottom teams are doing so we can hopefully secure our place in Serie A for next year. For all the ups and downs, we are safe and a strong mid table team with hopefully a bright future. While we can wonder what could have been, this season has shown that for a team like Cagliari to qualify for Europe, everything has to go right for a full season. It is certainly possible and always a goal to strive for, but if we achieve safety, it is a good year.

Achieving safety early is good and can make games like this weekend basically an island sun fest party as the top club comes to Sardinia for a game and we can just sit back and enjoy some soccer. While both teams have nothing to play for, I think each team will field its best squad because there are certain subplots that still exist and each team wants to make a showing.

Inter are the champs. Congrats to them. Mourinho always wants to win every game hes played and since he is not in the Champions League final, there is no reason for him not to send out his best players. While there may be a different substitution pattern, fans should all see the big guns including a last look at Figo, one of the greats.

Cagliari would like to finish strong and Acquafresca wants to show Inter that they are making a mistake selling him to Genoa for Milito. Yes Inter needs a big striker and Milito is one of the best, but Acquafresca has to feel like he is being pushed out the door to Genoa and may lose his chance at being a starter for Inter in the near future. Is he ready, who knows, but Genoa is the best place for him. Inter is not going to let him go to a serious rival and Genoa is good enough that he can play for a top team, see European football, and as Inter did with us in the Suazo deal, just because he will be co owned with Genoa, does not mean Inter wont buy him back. I am sure Inter covered themselves should he get even better. While Genoa may not have a place for him and send him back out on loan, I just dont see it. They will need him if they are losing Militio. While his agent still mentions Parma and Napoli wanting him, Cagliari does too. He seems to like Napoli because of the name, but Bologna has a great history too. Unless Napoli can keep Hamsik and Lavezzi, Napoli is not a better place for him then us. He will be at Genoa and I think if Genoa lets him move, he would stay here over anywhere else. Either way, he wants to play strong in what might be his final game in Sardinia in a Cagliari uniform against the team that is sending him out again.

This game will remind me of the 2006 game where both teams were safe and it was just a kickaround on the final day of the season. It will be a wide open game and fun to watch, but essentially meaningless to both clubs. With Ancellotti possiblly moving to Chelsea, which makes no sense to me, Allegri will still be rumored to leave, but he should stay and he must start doing what is necessary to bring in the players that will help us be more consistent throughout the year.

This weekend is a chance for the home fans to celebrate a great season but an early reminder that the offseason will be very important to the future of this club now that they achieved a position in Serie A for next year.

Prediction

Cagliari 2-2 Inter