Serie A Preview: Juventus Looks to Rebound Against Cagliari After PSV Defeat

Juventus Seeks Redemption in Cagliari Showdown

Pressure is mounting for Juventus, who head to Sardinia wounded from a midweek Champions League exit at the hands of PSV Eindhoven. Just days after being knocked out of Europe, Juve must refocus quickly—Serie A remains their only viable path to next season’s UEFA competitions. They’re clinging to a top-four spot, but every point counts now, and a slip-up against relegation battlers Cagliari could prove costly.

This game on Sunday, February 23, feels heavier than it should. Not long ago, a trip to Cagliari looked like a routine win for Juventus. They’ve won 20 of 26 league meetings with Cagliari since 2010—complete dominance. But things are different this season. Cagliari have found some life in the relegation scrap, and Juventus showed cracks in the Champions League that their Serie A rivals will be keen to exploit.

Cagliari’s Fight and Juve’s Tension: What to Expect

Cagliari might be five points clear of the drop, but that gap can disappear in a couple of bad matchdays. The team’s recent performances hint at growing belief—grabbing 0-0 draws with teams like Atalanta, and holding Juventus to back-to-back stalemates in their last league clashes. It’s a big shift from past meetings when Cagliari often collapsed under pressure. Their last home win over Juve? That was back in 2019, but the way they’ve been grinding results gives fans hope for another upset.

Meanwhile, Juventus is threading a needle between hope and anxiety. Maurizio Sarri’s side picked up three straight league wins before the European setback, a run that looked like it was putting Juve back on track after winter wobbles. Still, the lack of cutting edge in attack has fed doubt—Juve’s last few matches have been low-scoring affairs, and they’ll need to prove that the PSV result was just a blip and not a new trend.

Another subplot centers on individual performances. For Cagliari, Kenan Yildiz is the man to watch—his energy and sharpness could unsettle Juventus’s sometimes ponderous defense. For Juventus, keeping focus is everything. The only other chance for silverware—the Coppa Italia—is on the horizon, but with Champions League gone, there’s no room for side-eyeing trophy distractions. Their league campaign has to be perfect from here on.

Expect a tense, cautious match. Recent meetings have been low on goals, with three of Cagliari’s last six games producing under 2.5 goals. The bookies are siding with the visitors this time, with predictions pointing to a slim Juventus win—think 1-0 or 2-0, nothing flashy. If you’re betting, a Juve win combined with under 2.5 goals seems pretty safe.

With both teams desperate—one for glory, one for survival—this isn’t just another routine fixture. It’s a crossroads, and in Serie A, anything can happen when tension fills the air.