Midweek Momentum

By: Jeremy | February 26th, 2008

As you head toward the finish of a long season, a Wednesday game following an emotional Sunday game can cause a team to come out flat or maybe keep any momentum going from their previous performance. A Wednesday game against Siena could be an advantage for Cagliari who is coming off an unexpected win against Lazio on Sunday while Siena could be looking at things a little differently. After going up 2-0 against Atalanta on Sunday, they allowed them to come back and tie the game 2-2. A point on the road has to be a positive result, especially against a top half of the table team, but Siena has to feel a little sluggish after letting the extra two points slip away.

To say this game is huge for both teams is an understatement. A win by Siena keeps Cagliari at a real distance in the standings and helps them in their relegation battle that will no doubt go down to the last week. A win by Cagliari and they will have miraculously caught up to the pack of teams that are facing relegation and will no longer be an automatic relegation choice. For most of the season no one who follows Serie A really thought Cagliari would not be relegated. A win on Wednesday and that all changes. The fact Siena is at home could make a difference in what should be a tightly played match.

Cagliari will be without Michele Fini as a result of his red card against Lazio but they do get Daniele Conti back. Otherwise the lineup should be the same as it was against Lazio. I hope Matri or even Acquafresca gets to start at striker, but Larrivey despite his horrible play still gets sent out there. Larrivey must have something on the President to be continually in the lineup despite his poor play.

Siena should have all of its players in the lineup although a couple of them may not be fit causing some changes to be made. Who cares. Siena is not better then Cagliari no matter who they put out there and to me have always been a leading candidate to be relegated. If Cagliari does not want to be relegated, this is the team they must beat. Cagliari could not ask for a better time to play Siena as the Rossoblu are as high emotionally as they can be and Siena has to be feeling the heat from bottom clubs who are getting some vital points lately.

With all the emotion you would think this would be a wide open game, but instead it will probably be a very tight defensive game with neither team looking to do anything that could cost their side a goal. Cagliari won the first half matchup at home so they have to know they can win this game. They also know a loss really kills all the momentum they have been gaining in the second half. The first half was so bad that there is very little room for error if you truly want to save the season. Despite the stellar play for the past five weeks, a loss here sets them back more then you can imagine, especially if other relegation candidates earn wins on Wednesday. A point is vital, but a win puts them back in the pack where anything can happen. This is a game they must win if the final weeks game at home against Reggina is going to mean anything.

I think the momentum continues and we steal another game.

Prediction Cagliari 1-0