Cagliari vs US Sassuolo Calcio preview - Di Francesco focused on survival

Sassuolo head into Sunday's game at Cagliari on a hot streak having lost only once in their last six Serie A games.

Last weekend's 2-0 victory over Atalanta lifted the promoted club up to 15th place in the table and they are now three points clear of the relegation zone.

But Sassuolo head coach Eusebio Di Francesco is not getting carried away with his team's good run of form and insists top-flight survival remains the only target for his club.

"We are going through a positive spell," Di Francesco said. "We are doing well and we are very happy.

"I am delighted with the performance of my team. I see my team improving game after game and this is an important sign. We must continue like this.

"The season will only be perfect for us once we have 42 or 43 points. We have a long way to go to get there."

Sassuolo, who have collected 13 points from 14 games so far, have shown huge improvement in recent weeks, principally in the area that had been their main weakness.

They do have the worst defence in the competition with 28 goals conceded, but have shipped just one in their last two league games.

The Neroverde will be without defender Luca Antei, who serves a one-match ban, at the Stadio Sant'Elia.

Cagliari are one place and one point clear of Sassuolo following Monday's goalless draw with high-flyers Roma.

That result followed a 2-1 win over Torino and Rossoblu boss Diego Lopez expects more of the same from his players this weekend.

"We can only be happy with the result at Roma," he said. "We went to Rome knowing that we would have to sacrifice ourselves to get a result and we did that.

"We deserved to take something from this game. I hope my players can show the same hunger and determination against Sassuolo.

"This is a must-win game for us."

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