Inter v Sampdoria – Preview: Undefeated Doria look to put more pressure on Mazzarri

Date: 28th October 2014 at 8:44am
Written by:

Inter host Sampdoria at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday evening in Serie A with a cloud hanging over boss Walter Mazzarri.

The fixture has produced many enduring moments from future treble winner Jose Mourinho making his debut on the Biscione bench in 2008 at the Marassi to Gianluca Vialli rounding Walter Zenga at the San Siro as Samp effectively sealed their sole Scudetto in 1991.

Both matches between the two sides last season were also memorable occasions for events on and off the pitch.

The first meeting last December saw Inter president Erick Thohir’s home first match since his takeover spoiled by a stunning 25-yard strike from Renan in the 89th minute as Samp snatched a hard-earned draw.

While the reverse fixture in April witnessed the inaugural ‘Wanda Derby’ constructed around the very public love affair between Wanda Nara, the now wife of Inter striker Mauro Icardi who had previously been married to the Blucerchiati’s Maxi Lopez.

The couple had met while Icardi was playing alongside Lopez for Samp in 2012-13, and after refusing to shake his former friend’s hand during the pre-game introductions Lopez saw a penalty saved in the heavy 4-0 defeat.

Icardi netted twice and cupped his ears in direction of the jeers of the home ultras in the Gradinata Sud after opening the scoring, while the Blucerchiati played most of the match with ten men after Eder was shown a second yellow card for his part in a brawl.

This season Samp are unbeaten and have 16 points after eight games, whereas this time last year they had six.

Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic told Sky Sport Italia that he saw his side make ‘that step up in mentality’ last Saturday after holding Roma to a goalless draw in their toughest challenge so far this season.

The ascendant 45-year-old tactician has also been linked with a return to Inter, where he finished his playing career in 2006 and was assistant coach for Roberto Mancini until 2008, to replace under pressure Walter Mazzarri.

The former Sampdoria head coach from 2007 to 2009 is still under scrutiny in spite of the Nerazzurri ending their run of one point from three rounds as Icardi broke his goal drought after five Serie A games from the penalty spot away at Cesena on Sunday.

Jonathan, Yuto Nagatomo, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Yann M’Vila, Fredy Guarin and Pablo Osvaldo are all unavailable for Inter through injury.

Sergio Romero will continue in goal for Sampdoria in place of the injured Emiliano Viviano and Fabrizio Cacciatore returns from suspension.

Expected Starting XIs

Inter: Handanovic; Ranocchia, Vidic, Juan Jesus; Obi, Hernanes, Medel, Kovacic, Dodo; Icardi, Palacio.

Sampdoria: Romero; De Silvestri, Gastaldello, Romagnoli, Regini; Soriano, Palombo, Obiang; Gabbiadini, Okaka, Eder.

 

Comments are closed.