Cagliari - Chievo Live Stream Italian Serie A 13 February 2011
Cagliari-Chievo Preview
Sunday, 13 February 11, 04:49 AM · Comments (0)
Alas, a certain useful website for American soccer fans without access to Sky Italia has been shut down, so it remains to be seen whether I’ll even be able to witness this one. Catania-Lecce is ESPN3’s selection for game of the week. I know it’s a relegation six-pointer, but those don’t get really interesting for a couple of months still.
It’s a mystery to me why Sky hasn’t yet started an online video service like ESPN3.com to make these games available for fans outside Italy. I’d pay for a subscription to something like that in a second, and I know I’m not alone in that. Veetle Roulette is gonna get old in a damn hurry, and the options are dwindling. Makes motivating myself to write the preview a little more challenging when I don’t know if I’ll have anything to analyze after, but here goes!
Recent History
Chievo (31 points; 10th in table; DDWWD) – An opportunity to define our club’s goals for the remainder of the season presents itself, just across the sea on the isle of Sardegna. There at the Sant’Elia Stadium await the rossoblu’ of Cagliari, sitting just a point above us in the Serie A standings. A victory puts us six points from the generally accepted “safety line” of 40 and vaults us into the single-digit positions in the table. While the Europa League would still be a ways off (we’d be looking up at least another five points at Juventus, Udinese and Palermo), it sure would be a lot safer to dream, heading into next week’s encounter with leaders AC Milan. A loss or draw, meanwhile would be a wasted opportunity, and leave us with a bit more work to do for safety.
The 5-3-2 formation we’ve come to know and love against Napoli and Lazio is apparently going to be reconfirmed against a less imposing side. The personnel will be a little different however, as Gelson Fernandes sits out a yellow-card suspension and Mariano Bogliacino succumbs to the fatigue created by 270 minutes of high-energy soccer in an eight-day span (averaging a 6.7 rating from me in that period). We’re expecting Constant to start again on the left, while Nico Pulzetti makes his first appearance in the starting XI on the right side.
A few other new faces may see their first appearances as well. Serbian midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic is expected to take a place on the bench, while forward Fernando Uribe has his paperwork at last in order and has been called up for this match. I liked Pulzetti’s work rate against Lazio after he relieved Guana, and I’m hoping for similar contributions and impressions from the other newbies.
Cagliari (32 points; 9th in table; WLWWL) – Cagliari’s been in solid form as of late, picking up 9 points in the last five matches, just like Chievo. They are, however, trying to re-establish their identity after the loss of Alessandro Matri to a Turin loan transfer and watch him help Juventus shellac the isolani last weekend. Their leading remaining goal-scorers are Robert Acquafresca and Nene with their four tallies each, so the question of where the goals will come from hangs over the rossoblu’ as Chievo come to town.
The full complement of players are available to Mr. Donadoni, as only Radja Nainggolan was a doubt this week. Cagliari puts out a “Christmas Tree” formation with Acquafresca in the “star” position supported by a pair of Andrea’s (Lazzari and Cossu). Michael Agazzi, who so expertly shut down Chievo in their 0-0 draw at the Bentegodi earlier this season, remains in goal in place of the “frozen out” Federico Marchetti. They seem to be dangerous off the deadball, and struggle with aerial threats, but it’s difficult to get a handle on how this team behaves with their former point of reference, Matri. Imagine Chievo without Pellissier… doesn’t look a thing like Chievo with him!
Matchup I’ll Be Watching: Michael Agazzi vs. Sergio Pellissier Very simple here… Agazzi has been a bit “leaky”, shall we say (rebounds against Roma and brutal blunders against Bari have led to unnecessary goals). Sergio is a “lurker”, often ready to poke in a botched clearance or save. Lurker vs. leaker… Advantage Chievo.
Who Scares Me This Week?
Daniele Conti The captain and center midfielder is an expert at running the offense and capable of casting thunderbolts out of that right foot, as he already has this season against Roma and Udinese. He will be looking to take the reins again after Matri’s departure, and without their chief goalscoring threat, he may be more inclined to shoot rather than trust his less prolific teammates.
Formation I’d Like to See For Chievo
(5-3-2) Sorrentino; Sardo, Cesar, Andreolli, Mantovani, Jokic; Pulzetti, Rigoni, Constant; Thereau, Pellissier
(Bench) Squizzi; Mandelli, Frey, Guana, Dimitrijevic, Granoche, Moscardelli
Most changes are forced by absences, but one is not. Thereau is a tactical switch. After watching Luca Toni wreak havoc with Cagliari’s defense last week, I think Cyril might be able to trouble them.
Prediction
Cagliari 1-3 Chievo: Once Cagliari gets behind, they struggle to keep the flood gates closed. Score early, score often… Fly, Donkeys!!
It’s a mystery to me why Sky hasn’t yet started an online video service like ESPN3.com to make these games available for fans outside Italy. I’d pay for a subscription to something like that in a second, and I know I’m not alone in that. Veetle Roulette is gonna get old in a damn hurry, and the options are dwindling. Makes motivating myself to write the preview a little more challenging when I don’t know if I’ll have anything to analyze after, but here goes!
Recent History
Chievo (31 points; 10th in table; DDWWD) – An opportunity to define our club’s goals for the remainder of the season presents itself, just across the sea on the isle of Sardegna. There at the Sant’Elia Stadium await the rossoblu’ of Cagliari, sitting just a point above us in the Serie A standings. A victory puts us six points from the generally accepted “safety line” of 40 and vaults us into the single-digit positions in the table. While the Europa League would still be a ways off (we’d be looking up at least another five points at Juventus, Udinese and Palermo), it sure would be a lot safer to dream, heading into next week’s encounter with leaders AC Milan. A loss or draw, meanwhile would be a wasted opportunity, and leave us with a bit more work to do for safety.
The 5-3-2 formation we’ve come to know and love against Napoli and Lazio is apparently going to be reconfirmed against a less imposing side. The personnel will be a little different however, as Gelson Fernandes sits out a yellow-card suspension and Mariano Bogliacino succumbs to the fatigue created by 270 minutes of high-energy soccer in an eight-day span (averaging a 6.7 rating from me in that period). We’re expecting Constant to start again on the left, while Nico Pulzetti makes his first appearance in the starting XI on the right side.
A few other new faces may see their first appearances as well. Serbian midfielder Milos Dimitrijevic is expected to take a place on the bench, while forward Fernando Uribe has his paperwork at last in order and has been called up for this match. I liked Pulzetti’s work rate against Lazio after he relieved Guana, and I’m hoping for similar contributions and impressions from the other newbies.
Cagliari (32 points; 9th in table; WLWWL) – Cagliari’s been in solid form as of late, picking up 9 points in the last five matches, just like Chievo. They are, however, trying to re-establish their identity after the loss of Alessandro Matri to a Turin loan transfer and watch him help Juventus shellac the isolani last weekend. Their leading remaining goal-scorers are Robert Acquafresca and Nene with their four tallies each, so the question of where the goals will come from hangs over the rossoblu’ as Chievo come to town.
The full complement of players are available to Mr. Donadoni, as only Radja Nainggolan was a doubt this week. Cagliari puts out a “Christmas Tree” formation with Acquafresca in the “star” position supported by a pair of Andrea’s (Lazzari and Cossu). Michael Agazzi, who so expertly shut down Chievo in their 0-0 draw at the Bentegodi earlier this season, remains in goal in place of the “frozen out” Federico Marchetti. They seem to be dangerous off the deadball, and struggle with aerial threats, but it’s difficult to get a handle on how this team behaves with their former point of reference, Matri. Imagine Chievo without Pellissier… doesn’t look a thing like Chievo with him!
Matchup I’ll Be Watching: Michael Agazzi vs. Sergio Pellissier Very simple here… Agazzi has been a bit “leaky”, shall we say (rebounds against Roma and brutal blunders against Bari have led to unnecessary goals). Sergio is a “lurker”, often ready to poke in a botched clearance or save. Lurker vs. leaker… Advantage Chievo.
Who Scares Me This Week?
Daniele Conti The captain and center midfielder is an expert at running the offense and capable of casting thunderbolts out of that right foot, as he already has this season against Roma and Udinese. He will be looking to take the reins again after Matri’s departure, and without their chief goalscoring threat, he may be more inclined to shoot rather than trust his less prolific teammates.
Formation I’d Like to See For Chievo
(5-3-2) Sorrentino; Sardo, Cesar, Andreolli, Mantovani, Jokic; Pulzetti, Rigoni, Constant; Thereau, Pellissier
(Bench) Squizzi; Mandelli, Frey, Guana, Dimitrijevic, Granoche, Moscardelli
Most changes are forced by absences, but one is not. Thereau is a tactical switch. After watching Luca Toni wreak havoc with Cagliari’s defense last week, I think Cyril might be able to trouble them.
Prediction
Cagliari 1-3 Chievo: Once Cagliari gets behind, they struggle to keep the flood gates closed. Score early, score often… Fly, Donkeys!!
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