Cagliari Calcio vs Bologna 24 October 2026 Prediction

Bologna sit 15th after seven Serie A matches and will look to improve their position against a team they have fared well against. Cagliari have taken just one point from their last four league meetings with Bologna.

Cagliari's Position Outpaces Its Underlying Numbers

Fabio Pisacane’s defensive setup failed in a 4-0 loss to Monza, though the result was not entirely surprising. Cagliari had been in the top four before that match despite performances that did not support such a high position. They rank outside the top 10 in expected points (xPts) and allow an average of 1.84 expected goals against (xGA) per game, too many chances for a team built around its defense.

Finishing was also a problem against Ivan Jurić’s side. Cagliari generated 2.36 expected goals (xG) but failed to score. Daniel Maldini is unlikely to carry the attack throughout the season on his own. He has scored four Serie A goals, two short of his career high.

Bologna's Progress Under Palladino

Bologna lost for the first time under Raffaele Palladino last round, falling 3-1 to defending champion Inter. Their results against teams closer to them in the standings matter more: they took four points from matches against Torino (1-1) and Lecce (2-1) under the new manager. Bologna have also scored first in all three games under Palladino. Cagliari may find an early deficit difficult to overcome.

Bologna will be without three regulars: Emil Holm, Riccardo Orsolini and Roberto Piccoli. The absences affect the attack most, although Orsolini and Piccoli have not been at their best this season. Their replacements, Federico Bernardeschi and Jay Enem, have both scored.

Cagliari vs Bologna Predicted Lineup

Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Zé Pedro, Mina, J. Rodríguez, Obert; Romano, Winks, Deiola; Maldini, Adopo; Mendy

Unavailable: Felici, Idrissi (both injured)

Manager: Fabio Pisacane

Bologna (3-4-3): Skorupski; Darmian, Heggem, Theate; Zortea, Pobega, Ferguson, Miranda; Bernardeschi, Enem, Cambiaghi

Unavailable: Holm, Orsolini, Piccoli (all injured)

Manager: Raffaele Palladino

Cagliari vs Bologna Prediction: Bologna to Win at 2.44

Main prediction: Bologna’s poor start under Domenico Tedesco has lowered expectations, leaving a relatively high price on an away win against Cagliari. In their only road game under Palladino, Bologna beat a Lecce side comparable to Cagliari in quality and style 2-1. Cagliari’s defense looked vulnerable last round, and opponents had a substantial xG advantage over them in three of their last four Serie A matches. The pick is Bologna to win at 2.44.

Total goals prediction: A high-scoring game looks less likely given Cagliari’s defensive approach and Bologna’s attacking absences. Exactly one goal has been scored in five of Cagliari’s nine competitive matches this season. Bologna have scored more than once in just one of their last four league games. Under 1.5 total goals at 3.00 is another option.