Cagliari vs Bari Prediction & Betting Tips - Serie B

Prediction published on 07/06/2023, 08:33  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 07/06/2023 at 09:35 in Football Predictions

Cagliari host Bari in the first leg of the Serie B promotion play-off final. The Islanders finished fifth in the main season, two places and five points behind their opponents. Finishing fifth took them into the play-off quarter finals and a tie against eighth placed Venezia. Cagliari won that one-leg home tie 2-1 with both of their goals coming in the first 18 minutes. Another home win came in the first leg of the semi-final against Parma. It was a battle to get the win after going 2-0 down in 26 minutes.  Hopes of an immediate return to Serie A weren't looking good for The Sardinians. They pulled a goal back and goals in the 85th and 89th minutes gave them the win. The away leg was drawn 0-0 so they are now two games away from a return to Serie A. The main season saw Cagliari win 11 home games and only lose two. They are unbeaten in their last 17 home league games but did lose to Bari last September.

Bari missed out on automatic promotion by eight points and went straight into the play--off semi-finals. That saw them take on Sudtirol and lost the away first leg 1-0 to a 92nd minute goal. A 70th minute goal by Bari in the home second leg gave them a 1-0 win. No extra time or penalties and Bari went through as they finished higher in the main season, now that's a rule that needs changing. Bari have only won two of their last six matches with no win in their last three on the road. This looks like being a tight game and our suggestion is a bet on under 2.5 goals.