Tuesday 06/05/2014, 22:00, Italy Serie A, Round 36, Napoli vs Cagliari
Napoli vs Cagliari Betting Preview
Napoli set another important milestone in 2014, by winning the Italian cup and has nothing left to do but to consolidate its position in Serie A. They currently sit in the third place and they need a single point in the remaining three games to be 100% sure that they will be playing in the Champions League playoffs. Cagliari won back-to-back games and can no longer relegate to the second flight, so this game has no meaning whatsoever for the visiting team.
Napoli vs Cagliari Betting Odds
At Ladbrokes
Napoli 1.45, Draw 4.30, Cagliari 7.00
Napoli vs Cagliari Betting Tips
Napoli played six games in exactly one month and then faced Fiorentina in Coppa Italia final and over the span lost a single match, away from home at Parma. Their defense was surprisingly sharp in the last three games and they always took an early lead that their opponents found impossible to offset.
The recent victory over Fiorentina was the result of an overly aggressive starting formation, featuring three strikers and Insigne scored twice. He has played 34 games this season yet this is the first time he actually scores and he couldn't have possibly picked a better time to break the ice.
It goes without saying that he's expected to pair up with Higuain in the offense, but Napoli will shift into a less aggressive gear, by fielding a 4-4-2 starting formation. They know that their opponents are not particularly motivated to win and that they will have enough chances to threaten their net.
Cagliari was in real danger of relegating at the end of the season, but two victories changed all that and they are now 11 points clear with just three rounds to be played. They have no injured players and they plan on keeping it that way, by resting key players and fielding just two strikers.
Key Facts
- The two teams met 27 times so far and half of the games ended undecided with Napoli winning just nine times.
- The two teams would gladly split points tonight, but the narrow margin victory for either side would make no impact
Napoli vs Cagliari Betting Prediction
Under normal circumstances, Napoli would be worth backing to cover the -1.5 goals spread, but tonight they are unmotivated and rather tired. The hosts will secure a narrow margin victory without trying too hard, but as far as punters are concerned, value rests with the visitors. Ladbrokes offers spectacular odds for Cagliari not to lose by 2 goals or more at 1.80, which makes this the bet of the day in Italian football.
Bet: Cagliari +1.5 goals @ 1.80 with Ladbrokes
