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Sardinia hosts Friday’s encounter between Ranieri’s side and Juventus, with the home team keen to continue the ongoing run that has seen them create separation in the relegation tussle.
Much of that has been aided by the Rossoblu’s resilience in responding to setbacks in their last three matches since the 1-0 defeat to Monza in mid-March.
Cagliari won a point after falling behind to Hellas Verona at the start of April, turned around an early deficit against Atalanta to win 2-1 and twice came from a goal down to nick a point at champions-elect Inter in gameweek 32.
That puts them in good stead as they aim to avoid immediate relegation to Serie B, and their recent form has opened a four-point advantage over 18th-placed Frosinone, meaning they cannot slide into the bottom three even if Friday’s game ends in defeat.
Ranieri will hope for a positive outcome for his side in Sardinia to extend their undefeated home run to five, having claimed eight points from a possible 12 at the Unipol Domus.
Allegri believes his side will not drop out of the Champions League places — he always maintained a return to Europe’s premier club competition was the target, not Scudetto contention — but Bologna are four points adrift and fifth-placed Roma sit eight points adrift, possibly being cut to five if the Giallorossi win their outstanding game against Udinese.
While looking over their shoulder at the turn of the year would have been scoffed at if it was suggested, picking up two wins victories from 11 matches has seen the Old Lady slide in the table, giving other sides a chance of supplanting Allegri’s men in the final weeks.
Nevertheless, Italy’s likelihood of securing an extra Champions League slot means it would take a cataclysmic collapse and other sides taking advantage to see Juventus fall to sixth.
Supporters may not be keen on a trip to an in-form side, especially as the Turin-based club have been winless on their travels since January 21’s 3-0 win at Lecce, losing three of the subsequent five on the road.
