Juventus v Sampdoria is a Serie A Week 26 match played on Sunday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
The Europa League, “territory” in recent years unexplored for the Bianconeri, does not give a moment’s respite. Juventus can’t afford to take a breather as the game is played once every three days and after the narrow victory against Freiburg in the first leg of the round of 16 of the second continental competition, Massimiliano Allegri’s men are up against bottom-of-the-table Sampdoria, who are one and a half feet down in Serie B.
In the cup, as they did against Nantes in the play-off, they needed the infinite quality of a star player like Angel Di Maria to bring home a valuable lead ahead of the return leg. In a match in which the Old Lady wasted several chances to double and guarantee themselves the possibility of going to Germany next Thursday with an even greater advantage, it was “El Fideo” who took the chestnuts from the fire for the Livorno coach. Who will now be able to enter the quarter-finals even with a draw. In the championship, on Sunday, it was the woodpeckers (three of them) who stopped Juventus, who returned from the capital empty-handed. Against a cynical and at the same time fortunate Roma, Vlahovic and his team-mates eventually came off worst (1-0), interrupting the streak of four consecutive victories and slowing down the run-up to fourth place which, with the fifteen-point penalty, is now almost impossible to reach.
The Stadium is a taboo for Samp
The Tuscan coach reiterated in his press conference that his team – on the pitch – is on 50 points. And that in the event of success against the Blucerchiati they would be second alone, in light of Inter’s unexpected defeat in La Spezia. Perhaps a way to motivate his players even more, while waiting for the outcome of the appeal to the Collegio di garanzia del Coni.
Quagliarella
The current standings instead see the Bianconeri in seventh place, co-habiting with Bologna and twelve points away from fourth place. The match against Sampdoria must be won at all costs, in order to immediately get back on track after the match at the Stadio Olimpico and to arrive in high spirits ahead of Thursday’s second round against Freiburg. For the Blucerchiati, the Stadium has become something of a taboo for the past few years: in their last seven home games, Juventus have always come out on top against the Ligurians, with a disarming aggregate score of 22-4. It is unlikely that Dejan Stankovic’s team will be able to reverse the trend at this difficult time. The victory didn’t come even against Salernitana: the Granata ended 0-0, a point that is of little use if we consider that Samp is last in the standings, -12 from safety.
Juventus-Sampdoria: latest line-up news
Allegri will inevitably rotate a few players ahead of the upcoming midweek fixture. Perin could be in goal in place of Szczesny, while Rugani will play in defence alongside Bremer and Danilo: Alex Sandro, who came off with a thigh problem against Freiburg, will be rested. De Sciglio and Cuadrado will battle it out on the right, while the coach is inclined to give Miretti a chance in order to give Di Maria a chance: the youngster will play alongside Vlahovic. Out is the disqualified Kean.
On the other side, Stankovic will reunite with Gabbiadini, who will form an unprecedented pairing with Jesé. Behind them will be Cuisance: Djuricic is better but does not yet have 90 minutes in his legs. In defence there will be Gunter, while in goal Ravaglia will replace Audero, who is struggling with a shoulder problem.
The prediction
In spite of absences and the fatigue of close fixtures, Juventus should make no missteps, likely securing a comfortable victory against a Sampdoria in oxygen debt and almost resigned to relegation. The Bianconeri are also likely to keep their goal unbroken, considering they will be dealing with the worst attack in Serie A, having scored barely 11 goals in 25 games.
The Juventus v Sampdoria matchday squad
- JUVENTUS (3-5-1-1): Perin; Bremer, Rugani, Danilo; Cuadrado, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Miretti; Vlahovic.
- SAMPDORIA (3-4-1-2): Ravaglia; Gunter, Nuytinck, Amione; Leris, Winks, Rincon, Augello; Cuisance; Gabbiadini, Jesé.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
