Cagliari-Empoli-Put Up or Shut Up Part 2

By: Jeremy | April 18th, 2008

Cagliari is still glowing after taking a must three points on the road last week against Livorno. Considering all the circumstances of that game and what it meant, it was by far Cagliaris biggest win of the season. Their performance in the second half of the season not only brought them to the point where that game actually meant something, but put them in a position to where they can actually avoid the drop. If you dont understand how big that win was Cagliari fans, you will understand it after this weekends game against Empoli.

This game is the second of must win(after many other must win/draws that they have facing this year) back to back games and the Livorno win only emphasizes its importance. The circumstances are basically the same as last week with a few significant exceptions. We are facing a fellow relegation struggler who needs the win as we do. The difference is that we are at home and the confidence has to be high after winning a road game after falling behind last week versus the mood of the team after questionable tactics and a loss in the Milan game. To me Livorno and Empoli are thre same club so this is a game Cagliari must and should win.

With the Inter, Fiorentina, Udinese triumverate coming up in the next three weeks, a win this week is needed to build a cushion we will likely need against our relegation rivals. Even with a win, I still expect the game with Reggina to determine our survival. A loss this week and we become relegation favorites and will have to pull an upset somewhere against three very good teams. You can only push your luck so much. The margin for error and the difference between survival and relegation is so small and this weeks game will show it.

Robert Acquafresca, the hero last week against Livorno, should lead an inspried Cagliari this week and there is no doubt he is ready and able to put a couple of goals in. With his great performance lately, Inter now wants to bring him back and the typical rumors fly. Robert did the classy thing this week and made it clear that Cagliari is his club and he will give his all for them with the goal being survival. It sure beats him talking about his future with Inter which we know is inevitable.

Canini, Parola, and Cossu are all suspended this week so Ballardini has a few selection concerns. All this means is that Maggliochetti will likely play and we might see Foggia for a full ninety minutes. I am still a big fan of Foggias talent and he is going to make a difference in whether Cagliari survives.

Empoli comes into the game with lots of questions, but they are right in the middle of fight for safety. A win for them this week, combined with some easy games coming up, allows them to control their own destiny. They earned a point in Parma last week and will be looking to do what Cagliari did to Livorno last week. They are not done yet and this is their week to show it. A win by Empoli over Cagliari this week will make them favorites for safety and destroy any all momentum Cagliari has and puts them in deep trouble. This is what Cagliari did to Livorno last week.

To say this is a must win for both teams is an understatement. I think we will see a wide open game with Cagliari feeding off the home crowd to push some goals through. A win by Cagliari, combined with losses by their relegation rivals who face some of Serie A’s best this week, can build a cushion that will allow them to still be in the fight for safety even if they bomb the next three weeks. Cagliari is not going to let all of their work the second half go up in flames in these winnable games. They showed it last week in Livorno and there is no reason to think they wont do it this week at home against Empoli.

Prediction Cagliari 2-1 Empoli