Cagliari vs Como Prediction: 6/1 Piccoli can punish Serie A new boys

Cesc Fabregas' promoted Como side were brushed aside by Juventus in their Serie A opener last weekend and now go to Cagliari on Monday evening (17:30 KO) hoping to get points on the board.

Can they do so? Read on for my Cagliari vs Como predictions - including the latest odds and team news.

Cagliari vs Como Odds

Cagliari are 23/20 to get maximum points at home, with Come priced at 12/5 to triumph and the draw available at 12/5.

Both teams to score is 8/11, with over 3.5 goals at 5/2. Cagliari drew their opener 0-0 and a repeat scoreline is 9/1.

Team News

Cagliari boss Davide Nicola, dubbed the survival specialist having led four Serie A clubs away from relegation in his career, looks set to have a full complement at his disposal. Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina was suspended for the opening weekend stalemate with Roma but returns now, while Nadir Zortea is in contention after missing that opener with injury.

Fabregas also has some returning ammunition, with midfielder Alessio Iovine back after suspension, though Raphael Varane is set to remain sidelined with a knee problem and Daniele Baselli has a thigh worry. Central defender Alberto Dossena should be in the starting XI to face his former employers after making the move this summer.

Cagliari to win & under 3.5 total goals @ 7/4

Home form was key for Cagliari last season, with six of their eight Serie A wins coming at the Unipol Domus. Gli Isolani will be all too aware that making home advantage pay against another club with survival as the principal aim this season is going to be key.

Fabregas's side didn't manage a single shot on target in their opening loss to Juventus and, while this is easier, they may take some time to adapt to this higher level.

Of those six home league wins last season, four featured three goals or less, while six more of Cagliari's home assignments featured two goals or less.

This should be a gritty affair and a narrow home win is forecast.

Roberto Piccoli to score first @ 6/1

Striker Roberto Piccoli made a decent fist of things last time around, scoring five Serie A goals for Lecce – the joint-second lowest scorers in the Italian top tier last season.

The 23-year-old forward has been around the houses in his career, with Cagliari already representing a sixth loan move from parent club Atalanta. He marked his competitive debut with a brace in the Coppa Italia win over Carrarese this month – though the second was disputed after it glanced off teammate Leonardo Pavololetti en route to goal.

His reward was 86 minutes leading the line in the stalemate with Roma last week. He should be feeling confident and is taken to open the scoring for the hosts in this less taxing assignment.

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