Bologna vs Cagliari preview - Cagliari on the brink of safety

Posted Sunday, March 06, 2011 by PA

Cagliari are just one win away from being able to plan with some confidence for another season in Italy's top flight.

Normally 40 points is the magic figure that clubs aim for at the start of the campaign and ahead of the match at Bologna, Cagliari have 38 in the bank.

Last weekend's 1-0 triumph over Lazio lifted the Sardinian outfit to ninth in the standings, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

With 11 round of games remaining, victory for Cagliari would be a major fillip and a milestone in the battle for survival.

"We have to reach the 40 points as soon as possible," said Cagliari coach Roberto Donadoni. "After that, we will not slow down.

"For us nothing will change. We will give everything game after game.

"My players know how I think."

Much of Cagliari's success has been down to their results at the Sant' Elia, where they have won four of their last five league games.

However, Donadoni's men will have to show an improvement away from home, having mustered just three points of a possible 12 in their last four games on the road.

Bologna, meanwhile, go into the encounter at the Renato Dall' Ara stadium inspired by last weekend's 2-0 triumph at Juventus.

The result was Bologna's first triumph at Juve in 30 years.

The win, courtesy of a brace from veteran striker Marco Di Vaio, lifted Bologna to 11th in the standings, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Donadoni has warned his players to expect a battle in Bologna.

"Bologna are going through a good run of form as was evident in Turin," he said.

"Alberto Malesani's men defend well and are very dangerous in counter-attack and we will have to be ready."

Cagliari will be without defenders Francesco Pisano and Michele Canini, with the former out injured and the latter suspended.