Sampdoria host Lazio at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Serie A on Sunday afternoon looking to secure their place at Italy’s top table next season.
The Blucerchiati currently sit in 15th place, seven points clear of the drop zone after their draw at Sassuolo in midweek. Seven points at this stage should be enough to survive, but Vincenzo Montella and his men are keen on winning to avoid pressure in the final games of the campaign.
Lazio, on the other hand, have improved since Stefano Pioli was replaced by Simone Inzaghi and won his first two fixtures before losing at the Juventus Stadium in midweek. The Biancocelesti are looking to end their season on a high with some players hoping to showcase their talents before the transfer window.
The last time the two teams played each other was in December, when the game ended 1-1 in Rome thanks to goals from Alessandro Matri and Ervin Zukanovic. The last encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris saw Lazio win 1-0, as well as winning the reverse fixture last season 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
With all objectives gone for this season, the Aquile might suffer from a lack of motivation, in a game that means much more for Montella’s men. The former Fiorentina coach should confirm his 3-4-2-1 formation, as he will be without Andrea Ranocchia through suspension and Antonio Cassano, Jacopo Sala, David Ivan and Carlos Carbonero are all injured. Matias Silvestre will replace the former Inter captain in defence, whilst the other ten men who earned a point at Sassuolo will be confirmed, with Fabio Quagliarella leading the attack once more.
Meanwhile, Inzaghi won’t be able to count on long-term injury victims Stefan De Vrij, Stefan Radu, Ricardo Kishna, Stefano Mauri and Milan Bisevac. The coach will insist on retaining his 4-3-3 system, with Antonio Candreva back in the starting line-up instead of Felipe Anderson, and Miroslav Klose back at the centre of the attack in place of Filip Djordjevic.
Recent form:
Sampdoria (L-D-W-L-D) Lazio (D-L-W-W-L)
Expected starting XI’s:
Sampdoria (3-4-2-1): Viviano; Diakitè, Silvestre, Cassani; De Silvestri, Fernando, Barreto, Dodò; Soriano, Correa; Quagliarella.
Lazio (4-3-3): Marchetti; Basta, Hoedt, Gentiletti, Lulic; Onazi, Biglia, Parolo; Candreva, Klose, Keita.
Infographic Source: www.sporticos.com
