Cagliari host Udinese in a bid for safety

A positive result would guarantee mathematical safety with two games to spare: that is Cagliari’s objective as they host Udinese, in pursuit of a point that would officially secure their season objective with the home crowd behind them. However, Udinese will aim to hinder Cagliari as they are on the hunt for their third consecutive positive result in an attempt to finish in the top ten.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The official head-to-head record between the two sides in Cagliari stands at 36 meetings: 13 Sardinian wins (the most recent 2-1, Serie A 2017/18), 11 draws (the most recent 0-0, Serie A 2023/24) and 12 Friulian victories (the most recent 1-2, Serie A 2024/25).

Cagliari's last home win against Udinese dates back to 14 April 2018 (2-1, with goals from Leonardo Pavoletti and Luca Ceppitelli to overturn Kevin Lasagna's opener for the visitors).

Cagliari and Udinese both come into this match having collected 7 points in their last 4 Serie A matches: 2 wins, 1 defeat and 1 draw for both sides.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cagliari have not won away from home since 24 January (Fiorentina 1-2 Cagliari, Serie A). In the subsequent 6 home matchdays, 4 defeats and 2 draws.

Udinese have not lost away from home since 23 February (Bologna 1-0 Udinese, Serie A). In the subsequent 4 away matchdays, 2 draws (against Atalanta and Lazio) and 2 wins (against Genoa and Milan), averaging 2.5 goals per match.

Cagliari can secure mathematical survival on this matchday with a positive result: the Sardinians hold a 9-point advantage over third-from-bottom Cremonese. Pisacane would achieve survival one matchday earlier than in each of the past two seasons (Ranieri in 2023/24 and Nicola in 2024/25 both secured safety mathematically on the penultimate matchday).

Udinese have not finished a Serie A season with more than 47 points — their current tally — since 2012/13 (66 on that occasion), when they finished fifth in the final standings.

Cagliari are the 2025/26 Serie A side that has taken the fewest penalties (2, level with Lecce and Parma).

Cagliari are the 2025/26 Serie A side that averages the fewest passes in the attacking third per match (59.7).

Only Fiorentina (15.7) and Genoa (15.1) concede more fouls on average per match than Cagliari (15.05) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Only Verona (15.9) commits more fouls on average per match than Cagliari (14.2) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Only Sassuolo (10) and Cremonese (9) concede more goals in the opening 15 minutes than Cagliari (8, level with Fiorentina and Verona) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Udinese are the 2025/26 Serie A side that scores the fewest goals through substitutes (2).

Udinese are the 2025/26 Serie A side that concedes the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half (10, level with Torino, Fiorentina and Pisa).

Udinese are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the highest percentage of ground duels won in the defensive half (62.58%).

Only Inter (16) and Sassuolo (8) score more goals from corners than Udinese (7, level with Roma, Napoli and Atalanta) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

This is the 2nd official meeting between Fabio Pisacane and Kosta Runjaic: the only previous encounter, the first leg, ended 1-1.

COACHES and PLAYERS

Kosta Runjaic surpasses his own points record in a Serie A season: 47 from 35 matchdays, already 3 more than the 44 accumulated at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Thomas Kristensen on the scoresheet against Torino: the Danish defender's 3rd goal of the campaign — his best scoring season in his career.

Kingsley Ehizibue on the scoresheet against Torino: the Nigerian defender's 2nd goal of the campaign (both scored in his last two matches, against Torino and Lazio). He has equalled his personal record in Italy, set in the 2022/23 Serie A season.

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: Kabasele (Udinese) 

Cautioned: Zè Pedro, Gaetano, Borrelli, Adopo (Cagliari); Kristensen, Kamara, Ehizibue (Udinese)

REFEREE

DIONISI (SCATRAGLI – TRINCHIERI) IV: TURRINI, VAR: DI PAOLO, AVAR: COSSO

UPCOMING MATCHES

Cagliari-Torino (Tbd)

Cremonese-Udinese (Tbd)

(Photo Getty Images)