Cagliari has changed a lot compared to the team that played on par with Atalanta the day before yesterday, losing 0-1 with the opposing goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi best on the pitch and the recriminations for the penalty not awarded with the score at 0-0. However, there is no time to think about what happened on Saturday, because tomorrow at 9pm the rossoblù will be back on the pitch for the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia in a one-off match against Juventus in Turin. As anticipated some time ago, Davide Nicola – for the first time this season – announced the lineup on the eve of the match, or at least most of it: «Scuffet will definitely take his place in goal», the coach announced. «Then Zappa, one between Mina and Wieteska, Palomino and Augello; Marin, Prati and Deiola; I have to evaluate a situation related to Felici, then Lapadula and Gaetano up front with Pavoletti and Piccoli during the match» .
The match will be played again three days later and with a large turnover, but Nicola wants Cagliari to give their all for this commitment: «They are matches for a different competition, but at the same time fascinating. It allows us to grow further and give space to a large part of the available squad. It gives us the awareness of playing every three days and the ability to manage ourselves in a different way: I like this and I think the lads do». At stake is a place in the quarter-finals, where whoever goes through will host Empoli : «This is a completely different competition, with different dynamics from the Atalanta that is now in the past. As I told the lads, we got here thanks to the performances we put in: we are going to face a great team and there is great reason to be proud, we can't wait to improve».
Zito Luvumbo will be missing, hit hard in Cagliari-Atalanta by de Roon . «He won't be called up, because we'll see how long he'll be out», Nicola's comment on the Angolan's injury . «I still have to speak with great transparency with the doctors, given that there hasn't been much time: he took a knock and we'll see if he'll be back for the next ones». That is, for Sunday in Venice, which however is not yet the main objective: «Let's start preparing for tomorrow's match, because it's a source of pride and further growth. Performances like the ones we're doing lead not only to awareness of one's own strengths, but also to obtaining what everyone is interested in».
On the opponents, Nicola concludes: «Juventus has had a quality transfer market and demonstrated all its strength against Manchester City. We know very well that it is of great quality and will play tomorrow with strong players, we must face it knowing that we must be competitive too ».