Sampdoria v Udinese – Preview: Zebrette and Blucerchiati look for security.

Published on: 09 April 2016

Sampdoria and Udinese will face off in Serie A on Sunday afternoon in a game that could see the victor feeling almost secure in retaining their status.

While both sides sit some five points above the drop zone having produced some positive results recently, there will be a nagging doubt in the minds of both. Udinese have not won for seven away games, while the Blucerchiati have lost just once in five games, and drew their last match with Fiorentina.

Udinese sprung a surprise on Napoli at the Dacia Arena, though goals remain a problem for the Friulian side. Just Hellas Verona have recorded fewer than their 29 strikes this season. Vincenzo Montella’s side are one of the division’s most exciting; only Roma’s matches average higher than the three goals per game that Sampdoria see.

This will be the 70th meeting in Serie A between the two sides, and the 35th in Genoa. Sampdoria hold a 28 to 20 advantage in terms of overall wins. They have only lost five times on their own patch to Udinese, most recently in 2012.

Danilo and Antonio Di Natale earned the points for the visitors in a 2-0 win; both scorers that day remain in the Zebrette squad, but only Danilo is likely to start.

Both sides will go into this game without a host of players. Montella has Joaquin Correa and Mattia Cassani suspended, while Carlos Carbonero and Jacopo Sala will miss out through injury.

Udinese’s Bruno Fernandes picked up another yellow card against Napoli and will sit this one out, while Alexander Merkel and the Brazilian duo Guilherme and Felipe are all on the treatment table.

Two old stagers will be facing familiar foes, though both look to be coming to the end of their Serie A careers. Should he feature, this would be Antonio Cassano’s 27th appearance against Udinese, more than he has played against any other side. He has scored seven goals against the Zebrette in this time.

Meanwhile, Antonio Di Natale has played more games and scored more goals against Sampdoria than any team. He only has one strike to his name this season, so will be looking to add to the 18 he has netted against Sunday’s opponents if he makes his 32nd appearance.

Form Guide

Sampdoria (W-W-D-L-D), Udinese (W-L-L-D-W)

Expected Starting XIs

Sampdoria: Viviano; Diakite, Ranocchia, Moisander; De Silvestri, Fernando, Krsticic, Dodo; Alvarez, Soriano; Quagliarella.

Udinese: Karnezis; Heurtaux, Danilo, Piris; Widmer, Badu, Kuzmanovic, Hallfredsson, Armero; Thereau, Zapata.

Infographic courtesy of Sporticos.com

Source: forzaitalianfootball.com

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