Bari vs Cagliari Prediction: Who will turn out to be stronger?

On 11 June 2023, the San Nicola stadium will host the return match for the right to play in Serie A in the 2023/24 season. Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Bari is celebrating their 115th anniversary in 2023. Such an important date is a good reason to finally return to Serie A, where the Red and Whites have not played since the 2010/11 season. Four years ago, they were relegated to Italy's top flight but have been climbing up the standings since, making them a serious contender for promotion. After 38 league games, they sit in third place and must play in the knockout phase. They beat Südtirol to start with, and in the first leg against Cagliari came close to losing, but they leveled the scores in 96 minutes when Mirko Antenucci converted a penalty, 1:1.

Cagliari, on the other hand, has suffered a significant setback in recent years. Such a bright and distinctive team failed last season in Serie A, forcing them to relegate to Serie B. They have been less than brilliant in Italy's second-strongest division, but they finished the campaign strongly, winning four straight games to lift their side to fifth place and qualify for the knockout stages. On their way to the final, the Red and Blue went up against Venezia and Parma. The Islanders started the decisive encounter at home, beating Bari 1:0, but they snatched a penalty at the end of the match (1:1).

Before the kick-off, Cagliari was the favorite. They would probably have approached the return leg as such, but they conceded a penalty in the 96th minute to lose the lead, 1:1. And there would have been no global problem if there had not been a curious clause in the regulations. There is no extra time in the knockout stages. What's more, despite the draw in the first leg, the Red and Whites enjoyed a massive advantage in this game, and now they can even play on the counterattack.

We have noted that there will be no extra time between Bari and Cagliari. The first only need a win; therefore, with any score, at least one of the teams will need to attack. This all promises a high-scoring battle. Suffice it to say that, in their first encounter, the Red and White came close to 5.35 expected goals, and the Red and Blue will need to look for chances as well.