Cagliari-Reggina

By: Jeremy | May 16th, 2008

After what seems like forever because of the gut wrenching, heart pounding feelings every Cagliari fan has experienced this year, we are now at the final week of the season and guess what, this game does not matter. We are safe and the stands of the Sant Elia will be filled with plenty of partying fans.

Once Cagliari pulled off the miracle comeback against Napoli to start the second half of the season, I prayed we would get to this game with it meaning something and for us to have a chance to survive if we could get a result. At that time, it was still a huge request as we were buried in last place and relegation pretty much assumed. With a point deduction and yet another new coach, there was no way such a wish could come true. However, the boys continued to overcome adversity and behind the goalkeeping of Marco Storari and the emergence of Acquafresca, we started winning regularly especially against mid level clubs and relegation rivals. We slowly moved up the standings and despite such great wins, we still needed wins over Empoli and Livorno to give ourselves a chance. A surprising win over Fiorentina in week 36 clinched safety and last weeks win over Udinese was just a reminder to everyone else that we are good. If only we won those games in the first half we would be fighting for European football.

With all these results, the game against Reggina is one we can approach with a relaxed atmosphere and this should lead to some fun football. This is especially true as Reggina has pretty much mirrored our season. They were relegation fodder like us yet won when it counted and clinched their safety with a big win over Empoli last week. Reggina will be missing Agostini and Valdez while we will be missing Ferri, but everyone else is around and expect all of them to play. We might give a run to a couple of youngsters but considering our recent stellar home record and problems with Reggina as of late, we will want to make them the latest victim of our home strength.

This should be a fun weekend as Fox Soccer Channel has the two big games involving Roma and Inter and those games will be fun to watch as they involve the Scudetto and relegation. As much as I hate Inter, I think they will be tough to beat. Their collapse would be as bad as Cagliaris survival is good. Ideally id like to see them draw Parma and Roma win. Livorno, Empoli, and likely Parma will be relegated this weekend, so it is all the more reason to enjoy those games. To go into the last weekend without relegation being an issue is truly amazing for both Cagliari and Reggina so look for them to play wide open and attack and even Storari will be laughing when he is pulling the ball from his net a couple times.

Prediction Cagliari 3-2 Reggina.