Sampdoria-Milan is a match of the sixth day of Serie A and is played on Saturday at 20:45
In the large group of teams still without victories there is also Sampdoria, at the moment third-last with only two points gained in five days. Worse than Marco Giampaolo‘s blucerchiati are only the newly promoted Cremonese and Monza. Three defeats and two draws for Caputo and his team-mates, unable on the road to replicate the same sullen and willing performances offered in front of their own public against Juventus and Lazio – stopped respectively 0-0 and 1-1 – with two direct competitors for salvation such as Salernitana and Verona.
Particularly painful was last Sunday’s comeback defeat against the Scaligeri, a match that highlighted Samp’s inconsistency on both sides of the pitch, especially defensively: with the exception of the match against Allegri’s Bianconeri, which ended in a white-net draw, Samp has always conceded at least one goal. But the attack is not doing well either, the least prolific along with that of the bottom-of-the-table Monza. A far from ideal situation, then, to face one of the most in-form teams in Serie A, the defending champions of Milan.The enthusiasm for the resounding success in the derby against Inter was somewhat dampened by the not-so-incisive performance in Salzburg on the first day of the group stage of the Champions League The Rossoneri struggled in Austria, but in the end had to settle for a draw (1-1), and overall took a few steps back in comparison to the away match
Sampdoria-Milan: latest line-up info
Pioli
Defensive problems for Giampaolo, who will have to do without Gambian centre-back Colley, who is struggling with a knee problem. In the middle, the coach will dust off Murillo, fully recovered along with Ferrari. There will be a three-man midfield with Vieira, Rincon and Verre, while Djuricic and Sabiri will act in the three-quarter. Both former Roma player Villar and new signing Winks, stopped by an ankle problem, will be absent. In front, Caputo and Gabbiadini will face off.
As far as AC Milan are concerned, Pioli has made it clear that former Liverpool player Origi will be in attack, with the aim of giving Giroud some breathing space. There are, however, not a few doubts for the Emilia coach. De Ketelaere is undermined by Brahim Diaz, Messias may get the better of Saelemaekers and Pobega could alternate in the midfield with Tonali.
UPDATE at 11:00: Origi sits out, muscle strain for the Belgian. Pioli will most likely ask Giroud to work overtime.
The Prediction
Inexplicably, at the Marassi against the big teams, Sampdoria are transformed: after Juventus and Lazio, the Doriani dream of stopping Milan’s run, but in the championship the Rossoneri seem to have a different pace and the pitch factor may not be enough. They will probably have to reckon with fatigue due to their second double commitment of the season, but in any case it is difficult to imagine another half-hearted misstep by Hernandez and his companions. They should return with the three points in their pockets from Genoa, taking advantage of the difficulties the Blucerchiati are going through. The total goals could be at least two.
The likely Sampdoria v Milan line-up
- SAMPDORIA (4-3-2-1): Audero; Bereszynski, Ferrari, Murillo, Augello; Rincon, Vieira, Verre; Sabiri, Djuricic; Caputo.
- MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Tonali, Bennacer; Messias, De Ketelaere, Leao; Giroud.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-2
