Cagliari-Roma-Making a good week better

By: Jeremy | March 27th, 2008

Sorry for the early “preview”, but I will not have access to a computer because of work obligations from now until Saturdays game so if I dont post something now, all you faithful readers will get no preview from me which I know would be devastating.

Anyway, the spirit of this club and its fans has to be extremely high as we justifiably got the three points taken from us returned and are now only in the relegation zone by goal difference. However, we still must realize that we have a dangerous Roma club coming to the Sant Elia this weekend and just cant give the game away because they are Roma and we already got three points this week. The relegation fight is still huge and any points are vital.

The lead up to this game reminds me of last Mays game at home against Roma which was our chance with a win to secure our Serie A future. As all fans know, we won that game 3-2. Roma could not better itself in the standings those last couple of games so they were not overly enthused about playing and sent out what wouldnt be their staring XI for a game that really mattered. With our guys hyped up we managed a win. This weekend is eerily similar albeit with different factors that might allow for the same results.

Instead of coming into the last couple of weeks with not much on the line for Roma, they come into the match with the Scudetto a real possibility because Inter is choking it away and plenty of meaningful football left for them. Does that mean they will put their best eleven out there and spank Cagliari which they should do if they are truly a Championship team? Not necessarily. DeRossi, Perrotta, and Vucinic are all suspended for Roma so they couldnt play ff they wanted and those are three key players that Cagliari will be glad they dont have to see on the pitch. Totti and Juan are also banged up and may sit this one out. The reasons for them sitting out might be a little different then it would have been if this was May of last year, but still it is a very good reason as I wont mind Totti getting some rest as I want him ready for their next big game.

After the Cagliari match, Roma gets to face Manchester United in the Champions League. This is the same team that knocked them out and humiliated them last year so Roma no matter what they say, is not fully focused on playing and beating Cagliari. It is a tough spot for them because they dont want to give away what should be three points when you face a relegation type team, but they are crazy if they do not do everything possible to put the fittest team on the field for the United game.

Romas dilemma has to be to Cagliaris benefit and this is the best time to steal some points from them. While the suspended players wont play and Totti may be rested, Roma has plenty of depth and will send out players more then capable of taking the points.

Cagliari will only be without Daniele Conti. Everyone else should be fit and ready to go. It is really good seeing Foggia start and play most of the game. I expect him to do the same this weekend and maybe the fans can give him some support to help him keep up his recent good form. With Acquafresca and Jeda expected to lead the attack and Storari stoked to save Cagliari from relegation, expect a lot of attacking football on both sides with a result similar to last Mays vital match.

If Roma plays like they have the past couple of matches and their mind is on getting ready for Mancheser, combined with Cagliaris recent home form and their excitement of being vaulted up the standings by the three points being returned, some additional points are obtainable by Cagliari in this game.

With Cagliari in the middle of the toughest part of its schedule, to actually be gaining ground and not losing ground to the other relegation candidates is truly awesome. If we play things right, we can have a couple games at the end of the year against bottom level teams where we can actually control our own destiny. For now lets see if we can keep our place. Roma is too good a club to assume victory when they still have a chance at the Scudetto.

Prediction 2-2 draw