Pisa vs Cagliari Prediction

Howzit boet! Grab yourself a cold Castle Lager and fire up the braai because we've got Serie A action that smells more like a lekker steak than a salad - and WTF are vegetables anyway? This Sunday we're heading to Tuscany where rock-bottom Pisa host mid-table Cagliari in what looks like a mismatch made in heaven for us punters.

Let's be honest here, Pisa have been about as useful as a chocolate teapot this season. Sitting dead last with just 15 points from 28 games, they've managed only one solitary win all season. ONE! That's fewer wins than I've had hot dinners this week, and trust me, I've been eating well at the braai. Their recent form is shocking - zero wins in their last ten matches with seven defeats including a 4-0 drubbing by Juventus and a 6-2 hammering against Inter. They've scored a measly 7 goals in those 10 games while leaking 23 at the back. At home it's even worse - 0% win rate in their last five, averaging just 0.6 goals per game while conceding 2.0.

Now Cagliari aren't exactly setting the world on fire, but compared to this Pisa lot they look like AC Milan in their prime. The Sardinians sit 14th with 30 points - double what Pisa have managed - and come into this with three wins in their last ten. Here's the kicker though: those wins include a massive 1-0 victory over Juventus and a cracking 2-1 away win at Fiorentina. They also held Lazio to a 0-0 draw recently. Sure, they lost 1-2 to Como last time out, but that was against a side flying high in fourth place.

The head-to-head makes for interesting reading too. In four meetings between these sides, Cagliari remain unbeaten with one win and three draws. The last meeting in December ended 2-2, but given Pisa's catastrophic decline since then, I can't see them getting a result here. The stats back this up - Cagliari average 46.1% possession and 80.9% pass accuracy compared to Pisa's 40.1% and 75.3%. Cagliari also manage more shots per game (10.6 vs 9.8).

The bookies have this surprisingly close at 2.55 for the home win and 3.00 for the away win, with the draw also at 3.00. That's disrespectful to Cagliari if you ask me. Pisa haven't won at home in their last five attempts and have only one win all season. Cagliari have shown they can beat big teams and grind out results.

Key Points:

• Pisa have won just 1 of 28 league games this season (1-12-15 record)

• Cagliari beat Juventus 1-0 and Fiorentina 2-1 away in their last 10 games

• Pisa failed to score in 5 of their last 10 matches, averaging just 0.70 goals per game

• Cagliari are unbeaten in 4 meetings with Pisa (W1 D3), including a 2-2 draw in December

• Pisa's home form: 0 wins in last 5, conceding 2.0 goals per game

Summary: This is a no-brainer for me, boet. Pisa are kak (and not the good kind), while Cagliari have the quality to pick up three points against the league's worst side. At 3.00, the away win is lekker value - dis die een! Back Cagliari to send Pisa deeper into the relegation mire.