Serie A
Sampdoria vs Inter Preview
Inter look to maintain their perfect start in Serie A against bottom side Sampdoria.
- Date: Saturday, September 28, 2019
- Time: 12:00 noon (EST)
- Network: ESPN
- Location: Genoa, Italy
- Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
- Capacity: 36,536
Inter will look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new Serie A season, as the league leaders travel to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to face rock bottom Sampdoria.
It has been an impressive start from the Nerazzurri under new boss Antonio Conte.
The big improvement has been in defense where they have conceded just once in their first five league games.
Also, they showed they can grind out results such as their victory against Lazio in midweek.
They weren’t entirely convincing but managed to maintain their perfect start to the Serie A season.
Conte is a winner having won league titles with Juventus and Chelsea. If anybody can stop Juventus’ dominance it could well be Conte.
They will expect to make it six wins out of six against a Sampdoria side who have lost four of their first five Serie A games.
While Inter have had a great start under their new manager, the opposite can be said of Sampdoria.
Under former Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco they have struggled so far this season. A win against the league leaders could well kick start their Serie A campaign.
Team News
Last season’s Capocannoniere Fabio Quagliarella is a doubt for tomorrow’s encounter.
Gonzalo Maroni is still out injured with a sprained ankle and is joined by defender Alex Ferrari on the injured list.
Meanwhile, Inter are at full strength but could rest Romelu Lukaku with the upcoming Champions League clash with Barcelona on the horizon.
Alexis Sanchez could be given his first start alongside Lautaro Martinez in attack.
Sampdoria vs Inter Previous Meetings
Inter have won each of their last four Serie A meetings with Sampdoria.
Sampdoria’s last win at home against Inter came in October 2016 when a goal from Fabio Quagliarella proved the difference.
Inter won both meetings last season by a single goal.
Predicted Line-Ups
Sampdoria (3-4-1-2): Audero; Bereszynski, Chabot, Colley; Depaoli, Vieira, Ekdal, Murru; Rigoni; Gabbiadini, Quagliarella
Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, De Vrij, Skriniar; Candreva, Barella, Brozovic, Sensi, Asamoah; Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez
Sampdoria vs Inter Prediction
Only once in their history have Inter won their opening six games Serie A matches back in 1966.
This is a great opportunity to repeat that feat. A victory against Sampdoria would cap off a great week for the Nerazzurri.
Victory against their fierce rivals Milan in the Derby della Madonnina and a win against Lazio underlined their title creditionals.
Conte has made Inter more resolute at the back and will expect them to keep a clean sheet against Sampdoria.
Sampdoria are low on confidence and form and also could be missing their star striker for tomorrow’s clash.
They will be hoping Inter will be complacent with the Champions League coming up.
That seems unlikely, under a manager as demanding as Conte, who will not let that happen.
Prediction: Sampdoria 0-2 Inter
Written by David Coates
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Photo credit to Romelu Lukaku via Twitter
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