09 May 2015
Cagliari, who have been Serie A mainstays since the 2004/05 season, have endured a difficult campaign and currently sit 18th with only four games to play.
A topsy-turvy term has seen Gianfranco Zola and Zdenek Zeman (twice) fired for their poor spells, with Gianluca Festa the latest candidate tasked with keeping them up for a tenth straight year.
And in order to be in with a shout of staying among the big boys, the Rossoblu need to try and claim maximum points from their remaining encounters.
But it’ll be no easy feat up against the Bianconeri given that the Sardinians’ last success on Turin soil, a dramatic 3-2 victory, came back in January 2009. Since then, they have collected only two points from a possible 30 on offer when facing the Old Lady.
However, two wins in their previous three Serie A encounters, versus Fiorentina (3-1) and Parma (4-0), see them approach tonight’s domestic meeting in good form.
Juventus.com profiles the key Cagliari trio Albin Ekdal, Diego Farias and Marco Sau who will look to pull off a shock result at the home of the newly-crowned league champions.
Name: Albin Ekdal*
Age: 25
Position: *Central midfielder
Versatile Swedish international and former Bianconero Ekdal is able to play in a variety of positions behind the striker.
The 25-year-old, who hails from Stockholm, spent two terms at Juventus, with whom he made his Serie A debut in a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Napoli seven years ago. He would go on to make only two more appearances in the black and white jersey before leaving in 2010.
Now in his fourth season with the Sardinians, Ekdal has scored five goals (four of which have come away from home) – as many as he had netted before in his top flight career.
The former Siena man proved the star of the show during Cagliari’s trip to Inter earlier on in the campaign, bagging a hat-trick in a surprise 4-1 victory at the San Siro.
Name: Diego Farias*
Age: 24
Position: *Attacking midfielder/Forward/Winger
Having arrived on loan from Serie A rivals Chievo at the start of the season, Farias has brought fresh attacking impetus to a Rossoblu outfit who struggled for goals last season.
Born in Sorocaba, the Brazilian’s dynamic and offensive nature saw him flourish in the second and third tiers of Italian football.
Now 24, he’ll be hoping to kick on and establish himself as a household name after finally making the step up to the top flight.
With six goals and three assists this term, Farias’ endeavour has seen him become one of Cagliari’s key contributors as the Sardinians look to avoid relegation to Serie B.
Name: Marco Sau*
Age: 27
Position: *Forward
Diminutive forward Sau has pace to burn and possesses the ability to thread killer passes for his team-mates.
Adept with either foot, the 27-year-old has acted as the key cog in the Cagliari machine over the years, and with five goals and four assists this season, has been earmarked as one of their main men.
The Rossoblu youth graduate, whose idol is club legend and former boss Zola, enjoyed fruitful loan spells at Foggia and Juve Stabia earlier on in his career which aided his development.
One for trivia buffs, Sau made his Azzurri debut as a substitute in a 4-0 friendly victory over neighbouring San Marino at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara back in August 2013.
