CAGLIARI NEWS

Alberto Grassi - Booked twice in Udinese match Grassi won three of three tackles, had two interceptions and one block and was sent off in Sunday's 1-5 loss to Udinese.

Impact Grassi was okay in the passive phase, but his side gave up five goals and he saw red late, picking up the second yellow card for diving. He will have to miss next Saturday's home game versus Juventus, where Daniele Baselli or Charalampos Lykogiannis will substitute him in the midfield.

APRIL 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastian Walukiewicz - Called up for Udinese tilt Walukiewicz (hip) has been included in Cagliari's squad list for Sunday's game versus Udinese.

Impact Walukiewicz has missed the last six months after undergoing surgery due to femoroacetabular impingement. He will try to challenge the center-backs that featured recently, although the extended absence does not play in his favor. He notched seven tackles, five interceptions and 13 clearances in five appearances (four starts) before getting hurt.

APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marko Rog - Available versus Udinese Rog (knee) will be a bench option for Sunday's match versus Udinese, coach Walter Mazzarri announced.

Impact Rog has been out since September due to the second ACL tear in a row. He has been able to recover within his timetable, although he has not played since December 2020, so he is unlikely to be a factor in the remaining portion of the schedule. He posted eight shots, eight chances, 40 tackles and 19 tackles in 14 matches in the past season.

APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Ceppitelli - Picks up calf issue Ceppitelli has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus Udinese due to a calf problem, coach Walter Mazzarri informed.

Impact Ceppitelli could miss further time since it is a tricky area. He had fallen out of the rotation in the last few weeks, as the coach constantly picked their other center-backs over him.

APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Strootman - Might not return this season Strootman (knee) has remained very limited in practice throughout the break and the chances of him playing before the end of the campaign are low, L'Unione Sarda informs.

Impact Strootman returned to Cagliari after rehabbing away from the team following a knee scope, but he has not been able to ramp up and he might run out of time at this point.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Leonardo Pavoletti - Tests positive for COVID-19 Pavoletti has contracted Coronavirus and has begun isolating at home, Cagliari announced.

Impact Pavoletti has only a few days to shake it off ahead of Sunday's away game versus Udinese. Gaston Pereiro or Balde Keita would likely start even if he managed to be available since he will miss some practice time.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Razvan Marin - Tests positive for COVID-19 Marin has contracted Coronavirus during his time with Romania, Cagliari announced.

Impact Marin will isolate in his home country and is at risk for Sunday's match versus Udinese given that he will be held out of practice for a few days. Daniele Baselli could replace him in the XI as he just returned from the same kind of hiccup.

MARCH 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Daniele Baselli - Returns to practice Baselli has cleared the COVID-19 protocol and practiced fully Wednesday, Cagliari announced.

Impact Baselli sat out the last game but returned relatively quickly. He has alternated with Razvan Marin in recent outings. He has posted four shots, five chances, 14 crosses and four tackles in the last five appearances.

MARCH 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Italian federation opens investigation into racist chants

The Italian soccer federation has reportedly started an investigation after racist chants were heard at the end of AC Milan’s match at Cagliari in Serie A

MARCH 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AC Milan wins 1-0 at Cagliari to maintain Serie A lead

AC Milan is displaying more consistency than its rivals amid a tight race for the Serie A title

MARCH 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Razvan Marin - Logs four crosses Marin had two shots (neither on goal), four crosses, one block, two fouls, created three chances and sustained two fouls in the 1-0 loss to AC Milan on Saturday.

Impact With AC Milan only winning by one, Marin and the rest of the offense tried their best to equalize as the match wound down. Though nothing came of it, the midfielder remains an aggressive crosser and a prolific shooter. Hopefully he will have more luck in the next match against Udinese.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Giorgio Altare - Plays strong defense Altare had one cross, two blocks, two interceptions, five tackles and one foul in the 1-0 loss to AC Milan on Saturday.

Impact It took Milan 59 minutes to score, and a big reason for that was the dominant defense from Altare. The Defender has been tough to get by lately, with 11 tackles and six interceptions in his last two appearances. Hopefully his defense can make a difference in the next match against Udinese.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alberto Grassi - Logs six interceptions Grassi had two shots (both off target), six interceptions, created one chance and sustained one foul in the 1-0 loss to AC Milan.

Impact Though he couldn't get either of his shots past the keeper, Grassi did seem to be in the right place at the right time in terms of interceptions. The midfielder has been on a hot streak with 21 interceptions in his last six appearances. Hopefully he can add to that total in the next match against Bologna.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Raoul Bellanova - Fires in four crosses Bellanova had four crosses, one interception, one foul and created two chances in the 1-0 loss to AC Milan on Saturday.

Impact It took Milan 59 minutes to score their only goal, and until that time, Bellanova and the rest of his offense tried their best to pull ahead early. The midfielder is always an aggressive crosser, but his tackling has been inconsistent lately. Hopefully he can bring it all together in the next match against Udinese.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alessio Cragno - Makes four saves against AC Milan Cragno had four saves and conceded one goal in the 1-0 loss to AC Milan on Saturday.

Impact AC Milan came out firing, and Cragno managed to hold them off for most of the match. The keeper has yet to record a clean sheet this season, but he typically makes more saves than allows goals. Hopefully he can record his first clean sheet in the next match against Udinese.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Damir Ceter - Called up for Milan game Ceter (knee) has been named in Cagliari's squad list for Saturday's match versus Milan.

Impact Ceter has been out since early January due to a knee injury. He is unlikely to have much of a role but he could be inserted in some late-game situations. He has appeared just once this season.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MATCHDAY: Villa hosts Arsenal in EPL; Serie A top 3 in play

Aston Villa welcomes Arsenal in the English Premier League, and Middlesbrough hosts Chelsea at Riverside Stadium in the first of the weekend’s FA Cup quarterfinals

MARCH 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Balotelli left off Italy's squad for World Cup playoffs

Mario Balotelli has been left off Italy’s squad for the World Cup playoffs

MARCH 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Daniele Baselli - Tests positive for COVID-19 Baselli has contracted Coronavius and is isolating at home, Cagliari announced.

Impact Baselli got the start over Razvan Marin in the previous game, but the teammate will most likely return to the XI Saturday. Charalampos Lykogiannis and Gabriele Zappa will have better chances of seeing minutes, with Dalbert moving to a more central role if need be.

MARCH 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nahitan Nandez - Re-injures knee Nandez sustained a MCL tear in the right knee in a collision in practice, Cagliari announced.

Impact Nandez was nearing a return following a problem in the same joint, and he is back on the mend for an extended period of time. The team did not disclose whether he requires surgery. He is not a lock to return before the end of the season considering the two consecutive injuries. Raoul Bellanova, Dalbert and Alessandro Deiola have been the main beneficiaries of his absence.

MARCH 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dalbert - Escapes without injuries Dalbert (foot/ankle) logged a full practice Monday, Cagliari announced.

Impact Dalbert left the previous game at half-time due to a knock, but he did not require further tests and was quickly able to practice with no restrictions. He is fully on track to feature in Saturday's away game versus Milan. He has posted one secondary assist, 12 crosses, three tackles and six interceptions in the last five appearances.

MARCH 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Razvan Marin - Seven crosses off bench in loss Marin had two off-target shots, created two chances, sent in seven crosses (three accurate) and made two tackles (one won) during Saturday's 2-0 loss against Spezia.

Impact Marin was Cagliari's lone bright spot on the offensive end, being the only one able to generate plays consistently for himself and for his teammates. Over his last six appearances (four starts), the playmaker didn't appear on the scoresheet but added 10 shots, 13 chances created and 20 crosses. Up next for him is Saturday's home clash against AC Milan.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Giorgio Altare - Fills stat sheet in loss Altare had two shots (one on target), sent in three inaccurate crosses and made six tackles (four won), four clearances and four interceptions during Saturday's 2-0 loss against Sp...

Impact Altare saw the opposition scoring twice during the second frame but was still an imposing presence at the heart of the defense, pacing his side in several statistical categories and also proving some offensive contributions. With 10 tackles, 20 clearances, seven interceptions and even six shots attempted over his last four starts, the centre back will try to remain productive during next Saturday's home clash against AC Milan.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alessio Cragno - Saves PK in loss Cragno made five saves, including a penalty, and three clearances while conceding two goals during Saturday's 2-0 loss against Spezia.

Impact Cragno did everything he could against a dominant opposition, even saving a penalty during the first half, but was finally beaten twice during the final frame. On the other hand, we would be talking about a much bigger loss if it wasn't for the goalkeeper's job here. Cragno will have an even tougher mission next Saturday as his side hosts league leaders AC Milan.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dalbert - Bows out against Spezia Dalbert sent in three inaccurate crosses, won one of two tackles, had one interception and one clearance and was replaced at half-time due to a foot/ankle problem in Saturday's 0-2...

Impact Dalbert picked up a small amount of stats at both ends but also caused a penalty kick due to a reckless attempt to clear the ball in the box, and also got hurt in the process. He will undergo further evaluations ahead of Saturday's home game against Milan. He was replaced by Gabriele Zappa who, like Charalampos Lykogiannis, would be a candidate to start of Dalbert could not go in the next game.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE