Serie A Preview: Sampdoria - Fiorentina

Sampdoria host high-flying Fiorentina at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris after notching up their first away win of the campaign last weekend. The Blucerchiati now sit in 14th place, with a game in hand, while the Tuscans are fifth, just one point adrift of Napoli and Milan.

It’s Now Or Never

The Doriani conquered the Stadio Granillo last Sunday, dispatching a struggling Reggina side 2-0. Antonio Cassano was once again man of the match for the Ligurians, as he first won a penalty, which Claudio Bellucci tucked away, before setting up Marco Padalino for the second goal.

It made for a nice change, as Samp’s away performances had been downright abysmal, with a single point picked up at Siena in September and five reverses.

Moreover, the triumph in Calabria somewhat helped them erase the painful memories of the Derby della Lanterna loss to archrivals Genoa and could finally give them a much-needed shot in the arm, as will the passage to the next round of the UEFA Cup, following their 1-0 win over Sevilla.

But it is now imperative to achieve some consistency, if they are to stay clear of the relegation zone in Serie A and possibly rejoin the hunt for a European place, starting with the home clash against the Viola.

The Gigliati have won at Marassi on nine occasions, but have not claimed the full points since the 1988-89 season (1-2). Samp have 21 victories to their name, while last term’s 2-2 result was the 20th draw between the sides in Liguria. 

The Florentine Orchestra

After a stuttering start to the campaign, the Viola seem to have finally hit their stride over the past few games: a comfortable home win over Catania allowed them to creep closer to Milan, who were hammered by Juventus, and keep up the pressure on Napoli.

Cesare Prandelli’s men painfully crashed out of the Champions League at the first hurdle, but ended the competition in style, earning their first win away to Steaua Bucharest and managing to make it through to the knockouts of the UEFA Cup.

But their brief foray into Europe’s premier club competition was nonetheless valuable and will stand them in good stead in the future.

Prandelli has insisted that their unfortunate draw at Lyon was the turning point, but they are now even hungrier to return to Europe next season and prove themselves.

And with Alberto Gilardino firing on all cylinders, a top-four finish is undeniably an attainable target. Last week, the Viola boss said that when Adrian Mutu and Gila combine, he hears music playing, and Bobaz di Biella truly seems to have dusted off his Stradivarius this season.

FORM GUIDE

Sampdoria

18 December (UEFA Cup): Sampdoria 1-0 Sevilla
14 December (Serie A): Reggina 0-2 Sampdoria
7 December (Serie A): Sampdoria 0-1 Genoa
3 December (UEFA Cup): Standard Liege 3-0 Sampdoria
30 November (Serie A): Cagliari 1-0 Sampdoria
 
Fiorentina

17 December (Coppa Italia): Fiorentina 0-1 Torino 
14 December (Serie A): Fiorentina 2-0 Catania 
11 December (Champions League): Steaua Bucharest 0-1 Fiorentina
7 December (Serie A): Torino 1-4 Fiorentina
30 November (Serie A): Roma 1-0 Fiorentina

Last season: Sampdoria 2-2 Fiorentina

TEAM NEWS

Sampdoria

Skipper Angelo Palombo has almost completed his lengthy recovery process from a muscular problem, but he should be fully fit after the Christmas break. Former Parma midfielder Daniele Dessena is also a major doubt with a foot injury.

Defender Pietro Accardi missed the UEFA Cup game with Sevilla on Thursday with a tibial strain and is doubtful, but goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi will reclaim his place between the sticks after a hand problem ruled him out of the trip to Calabria last week.

Possible Formation (3-5-2): Castellazzi; Lucchini, Gastaldello, Accardi; Padalino, Delvecchio, Sammarco, Franceschini, Pieri; Cassano, Bellucci.

Fiorentina

Goalkeeper Sebastien Frey and midfielder Riccardo Montolivo skipped the Coppa Italia tie with Torino in midweek, but should be at Prandelli’s disposal on Sunday. Danish international Martin Jorgensen is still out, but stopper Dario Dainelli has recovered from a muscular issue.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo missed the clash with the Granata with a muscular problem, while fellow hitman Giampaolo Pazzini also pulled put due to a bout of gastroenteritis, and they are both in doubt for the trip to Liguria.

Possible Formation (4-3-1-2): Frey, Comotto, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Vargas, Montolivo, Melo, Kuzmanovic, Santana, Gilardino, Mutu.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

El Pibe de Bari has almost given up hope of returning to the Italy side under current boss Marcello Lippi, as he stressed earlier this month. It would be a shame, since he seems to have finally buckled down and could give so much to the Azzurri’s cause. Meanwhile, he is keeping focused on his club career and is almost single-handedly keeping a struggling Samp afloat this term.

Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina)

Who would have bet a penny on Gila vying for the Capocannoniere crown at the beginning of the season? The Gigliati’s decision to pursue the misfiring hitman after his poor seasons at Milan had seemed like a big gamble this summer, but he is proving all his critics wrong and the Rossoneri camp might just be regretting getting rid of him so quickly.

PREDICTION

Samp lost their first home game two weeks ago, as local rivals Genoa ran away 1-0 winners. Despite drubbing Torino at the Stadio Olimpico earlier this month, the Viola have stuttered on their travels so far, suffering five defeats. Last term, these sides played out an enthralling draw, but the score-line could smile on the Doriani this time around.  

Sampdoria 3-2 Fiorentina

Vince Masiello