Viola Nation - Cagliari vs Fiorentina: Serie A 2018-2019A Fiorentina blog for Viola fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50059/viola-fav.png2019-03-15T22:30:40+01:00http://www.violanation.com/rss/stream/180304182019-03-15T22:30:40+01:002019-03-15T22:30:40+01:00Cagliari 2-1 Fiorentina: Highlights
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<img alt="Cagliari v ACF Fiorentina - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MlQgOkjSvmHs44CctFmqnUOxnCQ=/0x0:3543x2362/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63245996/1130787251.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Somebody should remind this team that the season’s isn’t actually over yet.</p> <h2 id="cuPwqB">Pre-match</h2>
<p id="aRJMcJ"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/cagliari">Cagliari</a> boss <span>Rolando Maran</span> picked Babis Lykogiannis and Paolo Faragò. <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> mister <span>Stefano Pioli</span>, without Alban Lafont, Jordan Veretout, or Edimilson Fernandes, went with Pietro Terracciano and Christian Nørgaard. Kevin Mirallas and <span>Federico Ceccherini</span> got the nod over Giovanni Simeone and Vitor Hugo, respectively.</p>
<h2 id="wJgFIn">First half</h2>
<p id="uPVFcC">Nope. No. Niet. Nein. None. Nada. Nil.</p>
<h2 id="Gxro3G">Second half</h2>
<p id="FA4Jc7">Shortly after the restart, João Pedro timed his run perfectly to slide past Nikola Milenković and tap in the opener from a <span>Fabrizio Cacciatore</span> cross.</p>
<div id="hucsrF"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wQhJja9mM98?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="hxe5qW"> A quarter hour later, Lykogiannis swung in a free kick that Luca Ceppitelli rose well to meet and head home amidst some rather dicy marking from the Viola defense.</p>
<div id="Z1y2yb"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJhLpk-_6C8?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="RUbHw0">Federico Chiesa pulled one back for the visitors two minutes from time after Gerson slipped a lovely pass through for him to run onto and swipe home.</p>
<div id="xiRjHu"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mt6BlOFuA6c?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<h2 id="5ALIZc">Full time</h2>
<p id="JFole2"><strong>Goals</strong>: João Pedro 52’ (ass. Cacciatore), Ceppitelli 66’ (ass. Lykogiannis), Chiesa 88’ (ass. Gerson)</p>
<p id="Wa5nUE"><strong>Cards</strong>: Cigarini 34’, Chiesa 42’, Ceppitelli 44’, Pavoletti 76’, Pezzella 90’+3</p>
https://www.violanation.com/2019/3/15/18267790/cagliari-0-0-fiorentina-highlights-serie-a-goal-joao-pedro-ceppitelli-chiesaThe Tito2019-03-15T19:42:52+01:002019-03-15T19:42:52+01:00Cagliari vs Fiorentina: Lineups and how to watch
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v Empoli - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rWCx9cubmSSurds11ZCrPvNtekg=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63244783/1074180062.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Big shoes to fill today. | Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The engine room gets some serious changes for la Viola on their trip to Sardinia.</p> <h2 id="UpS172">Late news</h2>
<p id="uB7AZF"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/cagliari">Cagliari</a> boss <span>Rolando Maran</span> has picked Babis Lykogiannis at leftback and moved Paolo Faragò into the midfield. <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> mister <span>Stefano Pioli</span> has opted for <span>Federico Ceccherini</span> at rightback again (although he’s swapped roles with Nikola Milenković mid-game twice in a row from this configuration). With Edimilson Ferandes nursing a groin pull and Jordan Veretout suspended, Christian Nørgaard will get a rare start in midfield. Up top, Kevin Mirallas gets the nod ahead of Giovanni Simeone, while Alban Lafont’s ongoing ankle issue means that Pietro Terracciano will reprise his breakout role from last week between the sticks.</p>
<h2 id="Y4oPC8">Lineups</h2>
<p id="rFa246"><strong>Cagliari</strong> (4-3-1-2): Cragno; Cacciatore, Ceppitelli, Pisacane, Lykogiannis; Faragò, Cigarini, Ioniță; Barella; João Pedro, Pavoletti</p>
<p id="xNDwUf"><strong>Fiorentina</strong> (4-3-3): Terracciano; Ceccherini, Pezzella, Milenković, Biraghi; Benassi, Nørgaard, Gerson; Chiesa, Muriel, Mirallas</p>
<h2 id="RUaL5R">How to watch</h2>
<p id="eMu5Ww"><strong>TV</strong>: Unlikely, but check <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3072142/cagliari-vs-fiorentina/">here</a> for the full international television listings.</p>
<p id="1eRhp0"><strong>Online</strong>: <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3072142/cagliari-vs-fiorentina/">Here</a> is your list of safe, reliable, and legal streams. Any requests for or links to illegal streams in the comments will be deleted and their posters will be <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/lee-bruce-Ta9mTIp3o9reo">Bruce Leed</a>. No Twitter today, sadly, as the ol’ job is getting in the way, but you should keep it here in the comments for conversation with the best damn sports community on the internet.</p>
<p id="Rz3NeJ"><strong>Forza Viola!</strong></p>
https://www.violanation.com/2019/3/15/18267194/cagliari-fiorentina-official-lineups-formation-how-to-watch-online-stream-serie-aThe Tito2019-03-13T19:00:59+01:002019-03-13T19:00:59+01:00Cagliari vs Fiorentina: Preview
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<img alt="ACF Fiorentina v SS Lazio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tTEOPGd4-TsAZE0gF-Y0-uyHulU=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63232238/1129728052.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A totally bogus hat trick would be fine for this one, dude. | Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Can a ravaged Viola lineup get a big three points in Sardinia? Betteridge’s Law of Headlines can probably answer that.</p> <p id="8cxTkm">It’s time for <a href="https://www.violanation.com/">Fiorentina</a> to put last week’s draw against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/lazio">Lazio</a> behind them and lie to themselves that they can still qualify for Europe with a string of good results. That’ll require a win against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/cagliari">Cagliari</a> under the Friday night lights. In their 79 meetings since the first in 1964, the Viola are W34 D22 L23 with a +26 goal difference. Over their last 10, the good guys have won 5, drawn 2, and lost 3, including a <a href="https://www.violanation.com/2018/10/22/18006056/fiorentina-1-1-cagliari-recap-report-player-ratings-grades-serie-a">1-1 shithousery masterclass</a> from the Rossoblu earlier this year and <a href="https://www.violanation.com/2017/12/25/16817108/cagliari-0-1-fiorentina-match-recap-review-player-ratings-serie-a">a 0-1 victory</a> in this fixture last year.</p>
<p id="YhCNO4">The referee for this one is 41-year-old Daniele Doveri of Roma. In 11 Serie A matches this year, he’s handed out 44 yellow cards, 3 red cards, and 4 penalties, so you know he’s not afraid to get involved. In 19 games under his watch, Fiorentina are W11 D2 L6; most recently, he took charge of the <a href="https://www.violanation.com/2018/2/4/16970004/bologna-1-2-fiorentina-recap-and-player-ratings-chiesa-derby-rivalry-serie-a-corner-goals">1-2 win</a> at Bologna that featured not one but two Olimpico goals. For a fuller analysis, ask slakas.</p>
<p id="mj0poK">The match will be played <strong>Friday, 15 March 2019</strong>, at <strong>7:30 PM GMT/3:30 PM EST</strong>, at the Sardegna Arena in Cagliari. The forecast calls for no rain and some fairly mild temperatures, but the wind could be a serious factor in this one, with gusts expected to hit 40 km/h (25 mph), which could lead to a mighty disjointed game.</p>
<h2 id="drkm9J">Cagliari</h2>
<p id="Ozt13c">While they’re only 5 points away from the final relegation spot, the Sardinians will feel that they’ve got a good chance to keep their spot in Serie A for the 4th consecutive year. Currently in 14th with 27 points and a -16 point difference, we could start seeing <a href="https://www.violanation.com/special-features/2018/12/13/18097586/the-viola-nation-lexicon-dictionary-terms">the Dumutru Effect</a> come into play if they’re worried about maintaining that cushion. With a shock win against <a href="https://www.serpentsofmadonnina.com/">Inter Milan</a> two weeks ago offset by a loss to Serie B-bound <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/bologna">Bologna</a> last time out, this outfit can be tough to figure.</p>
<p id="usYtBK">Manager Rolando Maran has, as expected, worked his defensive magic on the Sardi, turning them into the league’s 9th-stoutest defense, particularly at home, where that record improves to joint 5th. He’ll be without CB <span>Ragnar Klavan</span> (Achilles) and CM <span>Lucas Castro</span>, but we know what to expect from his teams: a 4-3-1-2 formation that sits very deep, plays very physically, disrupts opponents magnificently, and scores exclusively on the counter or via set pieces.</p>
<p id="OE5mgP">The dangermen are striker <span>Leonardo Pavoletti</span> (10 goals) and João Pedro (4 goals, 3 assists), although Fiorentina loanee and world-class dingus Cyril Théréau could well make an appearance as well. Expect the Isolani to spend much of the match sitting in their own penalty area before sallying forth occasionally at speed; we could see a very choppy game in the middle given their knack for niggling fouls, and they’ll try to grind the Viola attackers down over 90 minutes with some bruising play at the back.</p>
<h2 id="KcWybv">Fiorentina</h2>
<p id="3O0Wn0">The Viola are 10th place in the league with 37 points. Unless they win their remaining 11 games, it’s hard to see them qualifying for the Europa League at season’s end unless they win the Coppa Italia. With just 5 points from their last 5 outings in Serie A, it’s safe to say that they aren’t exactly on a run of scintillating form, and Cagliari are the exact sort of opponent that tends to frustrate them badly.</p>
<p id="KZ9gF4">The real question for manager <span>Stefano Pioli</span> is the health of RW Federico Chiesa (abdominal strain); if Fede can’t go, this could get ugly. The mister could also wind up without GK Alban Lafont (ankle), although Pietro Terracciano showed in his Viola debut that he’s more than capable of holding down the fort. The bigger issue is the absence of Jordan Veretout (suspension); the Frenchman is the only remotely creative passer in the Fiorentina midfield, and it’s hard to see the visitors unlocking a deep defense without him.</p>
<p id="gfEtEI">No matter who’s out there, though, we’ll see the usual Pioli-ball. Against a deep-lying side like Cagliari, that could lead to a very sloppy game in midfield with a lot of fouls and a lot of hoofs up the pitch for the forwards. If Luis Muriel and Chiesa (if he plays) can get the ball in space, the Viola will like their chances. Making that happen, though, is very tricky, and reverberates all the way through the lineup. Pioli will have to decide between the power of Vitor Hugo or the clever passing of <span>Federico Ceccherini</span> at the back, the forward drive of Bryan Dabo or the calm distribution of Christian Nørgaard in the middle, and, uh, prayers that Fede’s ready to go up top. Or he could just keep trusting the regular starters who’ve underwhelmed so much. Who knows?</p>
<h2 id="BAQCcf">Possible lineups</h2>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9z-kDdjyu0y7iC6UJyBkOgObks0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15958201/03152019_at_cagliari.png">
<cite>made with <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.sharemytactics.com/" target="_blank">Share My Tactics</a></cite>
<figcaption>Srna or Faragò; Lafont or Terracciano, Laurini or Vitor Hugo or Ceccherini, Fernandes or Dabo or Nørgaard, Chiesa or Simeone</figcaption>
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<h2 id="bfbS5Q">How to watch</h2>
<p id="jSlHVF"><strong>TV</strong>: Probably not, but check the international listings <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3072142/cagliari-vs-fiorentina/">here</a> if you’re an optimist.</p>
<p id="z1NuOH"><strong>Online</strong>: <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3072142/cagliari-vs-fiorentina/">Here</a> is your list of safe, reliable, and legal streams.</p>
<h2 id="MMu5xP">Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Department</h2>
<p id="nIdQLF">Any Maran team is excellent at dragging opponents to its level with physicality and grinta, and the combination of wind and absences mean that we could see a pretty hideous spectacle. If Chiesa’s ready to go (and current reports indicate that he is), I think that he and Muriel can provide just enough class to overcome their hosts to the tune of a sloppy, chippy, and nigh unwatchable <strong>0-1 win for the good guys</strong>.</p>
<p id="LWvfFs"><strong>Forza Viola!</strong></p>
https://www.violanation.com/2019/3/13/18262864/cagliari-fiorentina-serie-a-preview-prediction-h2h-formation-lineup-watch-online-streamThe Tito