Cagliari are hoping to keep their impressive winning streak alive when they host Juventus, two points below them in the table, in Serie A on Sunday evening.
Juventus went into the international break off the back of an encouraging 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Serie A and a 5-0 hammering of NEC in the Europa League, which had helped to lift morale after a 3-2 defeat against Sassuolo in the league the week prior.
Luciano Spalletti is still without several of his key players through injury, including Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli.
Randal Kolo Muani is okay to play after having a minor surgical procedure on a fractured finger during the international break, keeping his place at centre-forward.
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Pape Matar Sarr has been brought into the side at the expense of summer signing Kerim Alajbegovic, which has brought a slight positional, but Francisco Conceicao, Weston McKennie and Nico Gonzalez retain their places in the side.
Andrea Cambiaso returned to training during the international break after missing the last four matches with an ankle issue, but starts on the bench behind Zeki Celik on this occasion.
Hosts Cagliari have got their 2026-27 season off to a flying start with four victories from their first five matches of the season and come into Sunday’s clash two points ahead of Juventus in the table.
Fabio Pisacane led his side to three consecutive victories over Lecce, Atalanta and most recently Udinese before the break. They have also conceded just two goals from their first five league matches of the season.
The Cagliari side now boasts two Italy internationals in Alessandro Romano and Daniel Maldini, the former making his senior debut for the Azzurri under Roberto Mancini during the Nations League fixtures in September and October.
Yanis Massolin, brought in on loan with an option to buy from Inter over the summer transfer window, has been introduced to the Cagliari starting line-up for his first ever Serie A appearance.
Kick-off this evening is due at 19.45 BST.
Cagliari vs. Juventus: Confirmed line-ups
Cagliari (4-3-2-1): Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez, Obert; Adopo, Winks, Romano; Massolin, Maldini; Mendy.
Juventus (3-4-2-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumí; Celik, Douglas Luiz, Sarr, McKennie; Conceicao, Nico Gonzalez; Kolo Muani.