Cesena welcome high-flying Sampdoria to the Stadio Dino Manuzzi this weekend in Serie A, with the visitors expected to walk away with all three points.
The Bluerchiati have been in indomitable form, equaling Juventus’ record so far of losing just once in Serie A. Their away form has not been as impressive, picking up just one win on the road, and even then it was to city-rivals Genoa, but they have yet to lose away from home.
Cesena have lost the same number of games as Sampdoria have won, leaving them second to bottom with the threat of relegation becoming ever more likely.
Both sides have only met on three occasions since the turn of the century with a win each and one draw. Their last meeting was in 2011 when Cesena held on to take all three points at the Luigi Ferraris. Since then, the Cavallucci Marini have dropped down to Serie B and continue to struggle with financial problems.
Coach Pierpaolo Bisoli has tried to get the best out of the players that have come in on loan, and aside from positive draws against AC Milan and Udinese in recent weeks, his side have not kept a clean sheet since their opening day of the season win against Parma.
Sinisa Mihajlovic has had much greater fortune and should be credited with getting the most out of particular players. The emergence of Stefano Okaka has coincided with an excellent run of form for the Blucerchiati, including a 3-1 win over Fiorentina earlier this month.
They go into this fixture on the back of a 2-2 draw with AC Milan, while Cesena were dealt a stinging last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Chievo before the international break.
The hosts have a number of players absent: Franco Brienza and Alejandro Rodriguez will be missed in the attack, with Guido Marilungo to be assessed ahead of the match. Sampdoria will be without Alessandro De Vitis, Alessio Romagnoli and Emiliano Viviano.
Expected Starting XIs
Cesena: Leali; Capelli, Volta, Lucchini, Magnusson; Coppola, Cascione, De Feudis, Defrel; Carbonero, Hugo Almeida.
Sampdoria: Romero; De Silvestri, Gasteldello, Silvestre, Regini; Soriano, Palombo, Obiang; Gabbiadini, Okaka, Eder.
