TIPS - Cagliari VS ACF Fiorentina

[(Cagliari) Strength]:
1. Cagliari finished 15th in Serie A last season, taking 36 points, narrowly avoiding relegation by a 5-point lead. In the first home match of the new season, they will face powerhouses ACF Fiorentina. The team are motivated to take home advantage to start with a win.

[(Cagliari) Weakness]:
1. Cagliari captain Leonardo Pavoletti will miss the first Serie A round due to his knee injury.
2. Cagliari secured only 2 wins in 6 friendlies in the preseason warm-up phase, showing average overall form.
3. Cagliari received only 6 wins, 4 draws, and 9 losses at home last season, with a win rate of only 30%.
4. Cagliari scored only 40 goals in 38 league games last season, with an average of only more than 1 goal per game. They were one of the weakest attacking teams in Serie A.
5. Cagliari conceded multiple goals last season, boasting a flawed defensive end. In the last 11 league games at home, they only kept clean sheets against last season's bottom team, Venezia FC, and AC Monza, conceding in all the remaining matches.
6. Cagliari were beaten twice by ACF Fiorentina in two legs last season, placing them at a disadvantage.
7. Cagliari won only 2 of the previous 10 games and lost 3 of the last 4 home games in AH.

[(ACF Fiorentina) Strength]:
1. ACF Fiorentina finished 6th in Serie A last season. Facing Cagliari on the road in the first game of the new season, they are strongly motivated to continue last season's strong momentum.
2. ACF Fiorentina only lost 2 of the final 10 league games last season, surpassing Lazio and moving up to 6th place.
3. In the new season, ACF Fiorentina won 3-0 on the road in the first leg of their Conference League qualifier, forming a solid foundation for their qualification. In the preseason warm-up phase, the team only suffered a defeat in five friendlies.
4. ACF Fiorentina scored no goals in only 2 of their previous 11 away games in last season's Serie A and scored at least 2 goals in 5 matches, showcasing full offense.
5. ACF Fiorentina were unbeaten in 9 games against Cagliari, including 4 league encounters, giving them a better mentality.
6. ACF Fiorentina won the last 3 competitive games and the previous 2 away games in AH.

[(ACF Fiorentina) Weakness]:
1. ACF Fiorentina will be without Rolando Mandragora, Christian Kouame, and Moise Kean in this game, weakening their overall strength.
2. ACF Fiorentina failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous 12 Serie A away games, revealing a flawed defense on the road.

[Tips]:
ACF Fiorentina performed outstandingly and finished 6th last season.

The strong start in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers highlights their excellent form and squad depth, with Stefano Pioli bringing a wealth of experience.

The team boast attacking talents such as Albert Gudmundsson and Edin Dzeko, while the defensive line, including goalkeeper David de Gea, possesses extensive top-level experience.

Besides, ACF Fiorentina maintained an unbeaten record against Cagliari in their last nine meetings, with four consecutive recent victories, giving them a significant mental edge.

Based on the comparison of strength, recent form, head-to-head records, and squad completeness, ACF Fiorentina are more likely to secure a victory away from home.

[Recommended]:
ACF Fiorentina (-0/0.5)