Two teams who have not started the new season on the right foot and are currently floating dangerously in the red zone. Verona and Sampdoria continue to be in dire need of a victory to regain confidence and enthusiasm and temporarily put aside those worries caused by a summer market that saw them both leave the table downsized and – apparently – weakened compared to last year. Together with Lecce and Bologna, they barely scored two points in the first four days, doing better only than the two newly-promoted Cremonese and Monza. A match that, needless to say, could prove decisive in terms of salvation in the future.
Gabriele Cioffi, coach of the Scaligeri, had guessed that his adventure on the Gialloblù bench would start uphill. Verona’s squad has been almost completely overhauled after the disposals of most of the protagonists of Tudor’s management: the entire attack of last season, for example, no longer exists. Barak, Caprari and Simeone now wear other jerseys, and perhaps this is one of the reasons why their goal average has dropped dramatically: only in the opener against Napoli, which ended in a 2-5 defeat, was Verona able to score more than one goal.
The only points for the Veneti came on away goals: 1-1 at Bologna and Empoli, while in front of their own fans only defeats against superior teams such as Napoli and Atalanta. In contrast, Marco Giampaolo’s Samp did well against the big teams at the Marassi – excellent draws against Juventus and Lazio, but there is the ‘stain’ of the heavy 4-0 defeat at Salerno. Finally, the Blucerchiati waited until last midweek to score their first goal, with Gabbiadini catching Sarri’s Biancocelesti on the stroke of half-time: the former AC Milan and Torino coach has to reckon with the league’s least prolific attack.
Verona v Sampdoria: latest line-up news
Gabbiadini
Cioffi will be able to afford to field the best possible line-up after keeping someone at rest on Wednesday in Empoli. The outside lanes will be entrusted once again to Faraoni and Lazovic, with confirmation also in the middle with the trio formed by Ilic, Hongla and Tameze. No changes in attack either, where the former Udinese coach will reintroduce the Henry-Lasagna pairing. At the back it is a duel between Gunter and Hien, with the latter slightly favoured.
In the last few hours of the market, Sampdoria acquired former Tottenham player Winks, who is ready to make his debut as a starter in front of the defence in the 4-1-4-1 launched by Giampaolo in recent matches. The Englishman is favoured over ex-Roma player Villar, while Leris, Rincon, Sabiri and Djuricic will act behind the only forward Caputo. Ferrari will be back in defence.
The prediction
Sampdoria have managed to violate the ‘Bentegodi’ with some frequency in recent years, and only last April’s 1-1 draw broke the blucerchiati’s winning streak. The prospect of a similar result again is a real one, considering that both have had disappointing starts. And that they might therefore think first of all not to lose, avoiding aggravating the situation. A match with at least one goal on each side is on the horizon, despite the obvious offensive problems.
Verona v Sampdoria likely line-up
- VERONA (3-5-2): Montipò; Dawidowicz, Ceccherini, Hien; Faraoni, Tameze, Hongla, Ilic, Lazovic; Lasagna, Henry.
- SAMPDORIA (4-1-4-1): Audero; Bereszynski, Ferrari, Colley, Augello; Winks; Leris, Rincon, Sabiri, Djuricic; Caputo.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
