Seria A: Sampdoria v AC Milan

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Sampdoria - Milan
Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Milan
Sampdoria

Sampdoria host Milan in a battle for European places at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday night.

Fourth place Sampdoria, enjoying an exceptional campaign thus far, separate their visitors in seventh by just three points in an extremely congested fight for Champions League and Europa League spots this season.

The Blucerchiati will be entering this contest high on confidence, especially at home, where the club have made Marassi a fortress this season with four wins and a draw from the club’s first five home games, conceding only two goals.

The impressive defensive work from Lorenzo De Silvestri, captain Daniele Gastaldello and the sparkling form of 19-year-old loanee from Roma, Alessio Romagnoli, are reasons why Sampdoria boast the joint second best defensive record in the Division.

De Silvestri believes this defensive solidarity can be attributed to the club’s positive attitude and desire, “The things that count most in teams like Sampdoria is the attitude, the hunger to fight for every point. These are the qualities we have.”

Sampdoria have a few injury issues as Emiliano Viviano, Matias Silvestre and Romagnoli are out of the contest. Angelo Palombo misses out through suspension.

Milan won’t relish taking on a watertight defence, such is the Rossoneri’s profligacy in front of goal in recent games. Indeed the club have struck just two goals in their current three-game winless run. It is a sequence which has seen the Diavolo’s bright start fade.

Club top scorer Keisuke Honda is under no illusions how important Saturday’s game is for the Rossoneri, “I think we have to win on Saturday. We have to show what we’re made of.”

Milan are without Riccardo Montolivo, Alex and Ignazio Abate for the trip to Genoa, but Montolivo’s return isn’t far away.

The visitors will be buoyed by the recent record against their hosts. Milan are unbeaten at Marassi in four years, with two wins and two draws.

The game has plenty of intriguing subplots. The likes of Manolo Gabbiadini, Stefano Okaka and Eder leading the line against a porous Milan defence, not to mention Milan needing a win to maintain a charge for European places. This has the makings of one of the games of the weekend.

Keep an eye on: Manolo Gabbiadini (Sampdoria) – The 22-year-old is one of a string of young Italian forwards putting themselves on the map this season. He has scored four goals this campaign, including match winners against Genoa and Atalanta. With three in his last five and an Italian squad soon to be named for two games this month, look for the youngster to impress Azzurri Coach Antonio Conte.

Form Guide: Sampdoria (W D D L W) Milan (W W D D L)

Last season: Sampdoria 0-2 Milan

Stat fact: Just one of Milan’s 18 League goals this season has been scored by an out-and-out striker, Fernando Torres, whilst the other 17 have been scored by defenders and midfielders.

Sampdoria (probable): Romero; De Silvestri, Gastaldello, Cacciatore, Regini; Soriano, Obiang, Duncan, Gabbiadini, Eder; Okaka

Suspended: Palombo

Milan (probable): Diego Lopez; Bonera, Rami, Zapata, De Sciglio; Poli, De Jong, Muntari, Honda, El Shaarawy; Menez

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another debacle, if u ask me. we have no chance against this Samp.

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someone kill Bonera please! and rape Essien

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mwahahahaha, inzaghi has lost touch with reality. bonera and essien best players on the pitch i am sick of hearing Grande Milan, strada guusta per tornare grande... pisses me off. where the hell did he see the great football played by us yesterday? we were slightly better than vs palermi thnx to SES goal, and lucky to have Mesbah playing for Samp nowadays. dont be kidding me, the Grande Milan were hiding to Samp, Eder looked like Kaka of old, Okaka like Weah and Mihajlovic like Sir Alex Fergusson.