Cagliari Calcio vs Atalanta BC

Both sides are desperate for points here. Cagliari sit just five points above the drop zone with five games left, while Atalanta need a strong run to secure European football — urgency sharpened by their midweek Coppa Italia semi-final exit on penalties against Lazio. The hosts have been badly off form — one win in ten league games, failing to score in three of their last five. Sebastiano Esposito (six league goals) is their main outlet. Atalanta carry more threat, with Charles De Ketelaere and striker Nikola Krstovic leading the attack, plus Jack Raspadori in contention for a starting role. Cagliari are without Leonardo Pavoletti, Luca Mazzitelli, Mattia Felici, and Riyad Idrissi. Notably, winger Marco Palestra lines up for the hosts despite being on loan from Atalanta. Lorenzo Bernasconi is absent for the visitors. Atalanta have won five of their last six away meetings in Sardinia, and the quality gap is hard to overlook. Our prediction: 0-2.