Genoa and Sampdoria will be facing each other in the Derby della Lanterna on Sunday night and there will be some minor battles within the match too.
One of the potential battles in the game could be between Genoa striker Alessandro Matri and his Sampdoria counterpart Stefano Okaka.
Both centre-forwards have different objectives that they must achieve in their careers now. Thirty-year-old Matri is a striker looking to get his career back on track, whereas 25-year-old Okaka is a star on the rise.
Alessandro Matri – A Man with Unfinished business?
After becoming a prolific striker at Cagliari and a two-time scudetto winner with Juventus, Matri’s career took a downturn in 2013-14 after transferring to AC Milan for €11 million.
In 15 Serie A matches for the Rossoneri, he only scored one goal and in the second half of the season, he was loaned out to Fiorentina. His loan spell resulted in only four goals in 15 matches.
Genoa have acquired the striker on loan from AC Milan for the 2014-15 season but he will be expected to battle for a spot in Gian Piero Gasperini’s team with former Cagliari striker Mauricio Pinilla.
Matri struggled to adapt at first but he scored both goals in Genoa’s 2-2 draw away to Hellas Verona last Wednesday night. His first goal was from a looping header and the second goal involved him dispossessing Rafael Marquez and then dribbling towards goal before striking a powerful daisycutter past Pierluigi Gollini.
The striker on loan from AC Milan may have struggled last season but playing with the Grifoni can help him get his career back on track.
Stefano Okaka – Another Italian late bloomer?
Okaka is finally becoming an established player in Serie A after he played 13 matches for Sampdoria last season and scored five goals.
Before that he was journeyman who went on various loan spells. He came through Roma’s youth ranks but he could never establish himself in the senior squad. Despite impressive loan spells in Serie B with Modena and Spezia, Bari and Parma had little time for Okaka in Serie A.
After swapping clubs with Nicola Pozzi, Okaka has made an impact with Sampdoria from day one. His physical strength and ability to hold-up the ball has been an asset for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side.
Okaka is coming into the derby with a more consistent run of form than Matri. He scored with a powerful solo run in Doria’s 2-0 win against Torino and his back-heel set-up Alessio Romagnoli’s goal in the Doriani’s 2-1 win against Chievo.
If he can be a consistent performer for Sampdoria, he could be another late bloomer from Italy like Salvatore Schillaci, Luca Toni or Fabrizio Miccoli.
How can they decide the Derby della Lanterna?
Both strikers are coming into this game with some form and the Derby della Lanterna should provide them the platform to shine in a big game.
Pinilla could take Matri’s place but it would be harsh for Gasperini to drop him after his brace against Verona. Matri played alongside Robert Acquafresca at Cagliari so he has shown in the past the he can also play alongside a traditional centre-forward. It remains to be seen though if Gasperini will play Pinilla and Matri simultaneously.
Gasperini hasn’t had a stable formation this season but Matri will need to rely on supply from Diego Perotti and Juraj Kucka if he is going to be the hero for Genoa. Sampdoria’s defence can’t give him space because that will give him time and comfort to dribble.
Okaka’s style of play differs to Matri’s, so instead of scoring the winning goal, he could be the one creating it. He could be the one playing an elegant through-ball to Manolo Gabbiadini or Gonzalo Bergessio but if he scores the winner, don’t be surprised if he storms through the Genoa defence.
One obstacle for Sampdoria though will be Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin, who has been performing heroics for the Grifoni. If Okaka can give the young goalkeeper a torrid time, he will be receiving more plaudits throughout the Italian peninsula.
Follow Vito Doria on Twitter: @VitoCDoria
