CAGLIARI

League position: 18th
Head coach: Leonardo Semplici
Serie A top-scorer: Joao Pedro (14)

RECENT FORM

Cagliari: L L L W W
Roma: W W D L D

Back-to-back league wins mean Cagliari have now claimed four victories in nine games under Leonardo Semplici, one more than they had managed across the 23 Serie A matchdays prior to his appointment.

They do remain stationed in the third and final relegation spot, albeit just three points adrift of Benevento in the safety of 17th and a third win on the spin could move them level with Gli Stregoni if they are beaten by Udinese earlier the same day.

Roma are three without a win in all competitions and have just a sole victory from their previous six top flight matches (W1, D2, L3).

The loss at Torino, however, was their first away from home in four matches (W2, D1, L1) and Paulo Fonseca’s side are still in the European hunt, knowing that they could pull level with city rivals Lazio in sixth-place - for the time being, at least - if they pick up all three points.

LAST MEETING

DANGER MAN
Joao Pedro

Cagliari skipper Joao Pedro ended a five-game run without a goal by hitting the winner in the 1-0 win over Udinese last time out, taking his tally to 14 in 32 Serie A matches this term.

He has scored in five of their seven wins so far, and Cagliari have picked up 18 of their 28 points in games in which has found the back of the net.

The 29-year-old Brazilian is integral to everything his side does in an attacking sense and if they were to stay up this season, Pedro will have been a large reason why they did so.

Pedro has scored five times against Roma in seven previous matches - including both goals in the Giallorossi’s 3-2 win earlier in the campaign - but has never been on the winning side in this fixture (D2, L5).

MATCH STATS

Sunday’s game will be the 82nd fixture involving the two in Serie A history, with Roma edging the historial contest (W36, D27, L18).

Roma are unbeaten in 13 Serie A meetings between these two sides (W9, D4) and won each of the last two in five (3-2) and seven (4-3) goal thrillers.

The Giallorossi have scored in all of the last 12 games against Cagliari and kept five clean sheets in the process.

The visitors’ most recent away record is also strong, and Roma have gone six games without defeat at the Sardegna Arena (W4, D2).

PLAYER STATS

• Joao Pedro will become the first Brazilian with at least 15 goals in two consecutive Serie A seasons since Kaka (2007-08 and 2008-09) if he scores one more league goal this term.
  
• Radja Nainggolan will miss out through suspension against his former club having played 203 times for the Giallorossi over four and a half seasons at the club.
  
• Edin Dzeko hasn't scored in his last 11 Serie A appearances, but has never gone 12 games without a goal in Europe’s top five leagues over the course of his career.
  
• Francesco Totti (14) is this fixture’s record goal scorer and the former Roma captain only scored more times against Sampdoria (15), Udinese (16) and Parma (20).

WHAT THEY SAID

“Having found consistency and a way to win while suffering is a great satisfaction for us.

“This team shouldn’t be in the position it is - but if we play with this humility, the performances and results will come. We have the some quality players to call upon."

- Cagliari coach Semplici, after the 1-0 win over Udinese