Football Bet of the Day: Sassuolo to triumph in Serie A relegation six-pointer

The final round of fixtures of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign take place this Sunday afternoon, with Manchester City and Arsenal both still gunning for the title.

However, there's little value to be had in backing either against West Ham United and Everton respectively, so it's off to Italy for my football bet of the day on Sunday, May 19. Sassuolo host Cagliari at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia (11:30, TNT Sports 1), with both sides firmly entrenched in the Serie A relegation battle.

Sassuolo head into Sunday's contest in 19th, three points behind Empoli (18th) and Frosinone (17th), who are in action later on Sunday against Udinese and Monza respectively.

Cagliari are just a point ahead of those two clubs, however, and Sassuolo can catch up with them and apply pressure on the Rossoblu with a win this weekend.

Three defeats in their last four games doesn't make for positive reading for Sassuolo supporters, who have had to watch their side struggle mightily in the absence of the talismanic Domenic Berardi. The 29-year-old has played just 17 times in Serie A this term - scoring nine goals - and hasn't featured since March 3 owing to injury.

Berardi will be absent again on Sunday, alongside fellow forwards Samu Castillejo and Gregoire Defrel.

So, how much hope really is there for a side that has won just once in their last eight games?

Well, the one win they did pick up in that period was their last outing at home, when they beat Inter Milan 1-0. Sure, I Nerazzurri had already sealed the Serie A title by that point, but it should be noted that, prior to their defeat in Reggio Emilia, Simone Inzaghi's side had tossed Torino aside 2-0, and then went ahead and thrashed Sassuolo's relegation rivals Frosinone 5-0 last weekend.

The likes of Lautaro Martinez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alessandro Bastoni were playing that evening at the Mapei Stadium, but Sassuolo still came out on top through a 20th-minute goal from Armand Lauriente, who has really come to the fore in recent weeks.

Lauriente has scored in three of his last five matches, netting four goals across that period, and with the Frenchman in form, I Neroverdi can beat anyone.

Sassuolo might not even have to be at their best to collect all three points on Sunday, as they host a Cagliari side that is winless in their last five. Three of those games have ended in a draw, including impressive 1-1's against both Inter and Juventus, but it's also two defeats in their last three.

Last Saturday saw Claudio Ranieri's charges thrashed 5-1 by AC Milan at San Siro, and they can consider themselves fortunate that the three teams below them all lost on the same weekend.

Worryingly for Ranieri, his side have won just once away all season in Serie A, with only Frosinone (seven) picking up fewer points on their travels than Cagliari (eight).

Meanwhile, 20 of the 29 points Sassuolo have accrued this term have come at home, and they've won two of their last five there, losing only to Lecce in that period.

It's do-or-die for the hosts, who will be relegated if they lose on Sunday.

I don't expect that to happen, though, as they have it within themselves to rise for the big occasion, as they did against Inter earlier this month.

Cagliari are ideal opponents to face at the Mapei Stadium, and Sassuolo can suck them further into the relegation battle this weekend.

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