With just a single Serie A ticket left up for grabs this month, Cagliari and Bari will both be desperate to pick up what could be a crucial first-leg advantage when they meet at the Unipol Domus on Wednesday night.
Suffering play-off heartbreak last season and making it clear that they’re desperate to go one step further this time around, the Islanders certainly impressed many as they edged past Parma thanks to an action-packed 3-2 aggregate win last weekend.
However, although Claudio Ranieri’s squad might open their first-leg showdown in the midst of what has been a stellar run of form, the former Leicester boss will know the importance of laying down a marker here.
With both Cagliari and Bari equally priced at 10/11 with to claim a hugely lucrative Serie A spot, Wednesday’s battle in Sardinia could prove to be a season-defining encounter.
For those of you that are looking to place a midweek flutter, we have created your ultimate Cagliari vs Bari bet builder and have taken a glance at all the key facts.
Cagliari’s historic advantage
Although Cagliari might have endured a brief wobble when returning from March’s international break, the midweek hosts have certainly come roaring back in some style.
Along with edging past Parma thanks to that action-packed 3-2 aggregate win, Ranieri’s side are unbeaten in each of their last eight straight meetings against Serie B opposition.
With that extended flurry stemming all the way back to April 22nd, the ex-Leicester boss will also be excited by his squad’s continued success at the Unipol Domus.
Including back-to-back play-off victories against Parma and Venezia over the past fortnight, the Islanders have also remarkably not suffered a single defeat in Sardinia from their previous 17 straight contests a run that goes all the way back to October.
Despite being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw when they last met Bari for a Serie B showdown on February 18th, it is worth noting that Ranieri’s side have remarkably lost just one of their last 13 meetings against Wednesday’s guests.
In fact, not losing just one showdown against Bari at the Unipol Domus since 2001, Cagliari will be looking to keep up that record here.
Bet Builder Tip: Cagliari win @ 5/6 with
Lapadula’s hometown romp
Already notching three play-off strikes in as many appearances over the past fortnight, there is no doubt that Cagliari’s attacking talisman has another crucial role to play on Wednesday night.
Enjoying what was a stellar free-scoring this season, Gianluca Lapadula has undeniably been Serie B’s most lethal marksman.
Notching 21 second-tier strikes on either side of the World Cup’s winter break, the one-time AC Milan striker has also continued on another rampant run of form during the back end of the 2022/23 season.
In fact, along with bagging both goals as Cagliari punched their semi-final ticket thanks to a 2-1 victory against Venezia on May 27th, Lapadula has also bagged eight goals in as many outings over the past month.
Likewise, recording four goals in just his previous three appearances at the Unipol Domus, the 33-year-old will be confident of testing a Bari squad that has shown some extended defensive issues on the road.
Including a remarkable 4-3 loss away at Genoa last month, Wednesday’s guests have mustered just a sole clean sheet from their last six showdowns outside of Aquila.
Bet Builder Tip: Gianluca Lapadula to score anytime @ 21/20 with
Corners galore at the Unipol Domus
While Cagliari might have drawn their first Serie B blank since the middle of April when they travelled to Parma for their second-leg showdown last week, Ranieri’s side have largely gained a reputation for their lively outcomes over the past couple of months.
However, although the Islanders might have played out a 0-0 stalemate in Emilia-Romagna last time out, their semi-final battle did still produce 11 corners and an abundance of chances.
On a similar note, mounting a nail-biting second-leg comeback against Sudtirol last week, Bari’s semi-final scrap also produced over 10.5 corners between both sides and they too have continued to produce a string of set pieces.
Along with signing off the Serie B campaign with a 4-3 defeat away at Genoa that saw 10 respective corners, Wednesday’s guests have also seen seven of their previous nine meetings against Serie B opposition finish with over 9.5 corners.
Likewise, it should also be noted, six of Cagliari’s last seven appearances at the Unipol Domus have also seen over 9.5 corners by the final whistle.
Bet Builder Tip: Over 9.5 corners @ 19/20 with
Cagliari vs Bari Bet Builder Special
Cagliari win @ 5/6
Gianluca Lapadula to score anytime @ 21/20
Over 9.5 corners @ 19/20
Place a £10 bet on our Cagliari vs Bari Bet Builder Special with and pocket £73.29 if all predictions are correct.
