Last-Ever Match for Legendary Ranieri on Thursday
Odds, News and More in Cagliari vs Fiorentina Preview
Ranieri, Cagliari Pull off Great Escape
For his last act in professional soccer, Claudio Ranieri helped save Cagliari from relegation. The 2-0 win over Sassuolo last weekend cemented Cagliari’s status as a 2024-25 Serie A team.
In the legendary Ranieri’s last match as manager, his Cagliari will host Fiorentina on Thursday.
Fiorentina are playing in the UEFA Europa Conference League Final next week and will see this as a warm up match.
Still, they’ll be looking for all three points as they can still qualify for the Europa League even if they lose the UECL Final.
We’ll take a look at the Serie A odds from Ranieri’s last match in our Cagliari vs Fiorentina preview.
Cagliari vs Fiorentina
Day/Time:
Location: Sardegna Arena, Cagliari, Italy
Cagliari vs Fiorentina Head-to-Head
Our Cagliari vs Fiorentina preview notes that the home team is unbeaten in the last nine meetings between these sides. In this season’s reverse fixture, Fiorentina comfortably took down Cagliari in Florence, 3-0.
The last two Serie A scores at the Sardegna Arena in this fixture have been draws. Cagliari have struggled to score in this fixture, with just one goal in the last six meetings.
Cagliari Breathe Sigh of Relief
In a match between two teams threatened by relegation, Cagliari went on the road to Sassuolo last Sunday. Cagliari put in quite the away performance and managed their first-ever Serie A road win over Sassuolo in the process.
Matteo Prati opened up the scoring, and Gianluca Lapadula cemented Cagliari’s place in Serie A with a late penalty kick. The 2-0 Cagliari victory also sent Sassuolo down to Serie B.
With Cagliari’s status in Serie A secure, Ranieri called time on his managerial career. Ranieri is responsible for one of sport’s greatest-ever achievements.
He was Leicester City’s manager when they won the 2015-16 Premier League title as 5000-to-1 longshots. Cagliari can now finish as high as 13th place in the Serie A table if they’re able to win Thursday’s match.
Cagliari have lost just two of their last eight games as they’ve drawn vs Inter Milan and Juventus and beaten Atalanta in recent months.
The Islanders have lost just five games at the Sardegna Arena this season despite having no players with more than five Serie A goals.
It would be special if Cagliari are able to get all three points in Ranieri’s last match in charge but their main objective has already been reached. While key defender Alberto Dossena is suspended, Jakub Jankto and Antoine Makoumbou are out injured.
Two Paths to Europa League for Fiorentina
Fiorentina and Atalanta have two games remaining in Serie A, while every other team will close out their campaign this week.
The Fiorentina standings show they’re in eighth place and can clinch at least eighth with a win on Thursday.
If Fiorentina win out and Lazio lose to Sassuolo on Sunday, the Viola will qualify for the Europa League through the league.
However, they can also get directly to the UEL by winning the Conference League Final vs Olympiakos next week.
In their last Serie A match, Fiorentina drew 2-2 vs Napoli. After Amir Rrahmani opened up the scoring for Napoli Cristino Biraghi leveled the match with an outrageous free kick.
M’Bala Nzola gave Fiorentina the lead minutes later but Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a free kick of his own in the second half. Both teams have now scored in each of Fiorentina’s last seven Serie A games, in all competitions.
Over their last five Serie A matches, Fiorentina have averaged an impressive 2.4 goals per game. Nicolas Gonzalez has scored three goals in his last three Serie A appearances and is the only Viola player with 10 Serie A goals this season.
Fiorentina have had relatively good injury luck in recent weeks and just Riccardo Sottil will miss this match.
Cagliari vs Fiorentina Match Analysis & Odds
This match was rescheduled from Sunday to Thursday due to Fiorentina’s Conference League Final next Wednesday.
It is clear where Fiorentina’s priorities lie, as the UECL Final provides the easiest path to the UEL for them and they have unfinished business after losing to West Ham in last year’s final.
Still, they’ll take this match seriously and Cagliari vs Fiorentina previews note that the Viola are -135 favorites.
Cagliari are +360 underdogs and with their Serie A status already secure, the odds certainly make sense. Still, the away team has usually been poor in this fixture and Fiorentina are just 5-4-8 on the road this Serie A season.
A draw comes in at +290 odds and would mean that Fiorentina need to win the Conference League Final to qualify for the Europa League.
Cagliari +0.5, +1 at -115 odds certainly isn’t the worst pick here as they’ve avoided defeat at home more often than not. Their last loss there was back in February.
Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano may also choose to limit some of his key Serie A players’ minutes. Fiorentina -0.5, -1 still sits at -105 and their last win in Sardinia was in 2017. Over 2.5, 3 goals are also priced at -120 odds as both teams certainly aren’t immune from conceding goals.
For Serie A betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
