Verdict: Complete targets over 2.5
Greatest odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: 888sport
The Serie A season is precisely at its midway level, with each staff having performed 19 matches thus far. Spherical 20 will see struggling Sampdoria go to Bergamo, to the stadium recognized below three totally different names – Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, Stadio di Bergamo in UEFA competitions, and the Gewiss Stadium for sponsorship causes, to face Atalanta, now an everyday function within the high areas of the desk.
Atalanta
Napoli have pulled away within the race for the Scudetto, topping the league with 50 factors. As for the remaining three locations main into the Champions League subsequent time period, they’re set to be the objects of a fierce battle between AC Milan (at the moment in second place with 38 factors), Lazio (third, 37), Inter Milan (fourth, 37), AS Roma (fifth, 37), and naturally, Atalanta, sixth with a tally of 35. The competitors would have been even fiercer had not 15 factors been deducted from Juventus, however as it’s, the Bianconeri at the moment are tenth with simply 23 factors and certainly out of it.
Atalanta’s last-six run relating to aggressive matches stretches again to November thirteenth, after they had been crushed 2-3 at house by Inter of their final match earlier than the World Cup, and in addition their final aggressive defeat thus far. This yr, they drew 2-2 away to Spezia, triumphed 1-2 in Bologna, destroyed Salernitana at house by 8-2, beat Spezia at house by 5-2 within the Coppa Italia spherical of 16, and drew 3-3 away to Juventus.
It was an exhilarating encounter, with the scoreline tilting first a technique, then the opposite, till it lastly led to steadiness. It was Ademola Lookman who struck for Atalanta lower than 4 minutes in, and Angel Di Maria who equalized from the spot within the twenty fifth. Arkadiusz Milik turned it round within the thirty fourth, however Joakim Maehle made it 2-2 as quickly because the second half began. It took Lookman one other seven minutes to place his staff forward once more, and the ultimate rating was set by Danilo within the sixty fifth.
Staff Information
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is more likely to be with out the providers of centre-back Jose Luis Palomino, who was compelled off by an damage towards Juventus. Wing-back Davide Zappacosta is out too, needing some extra time to get better from his thigh drawback.
Alternatively, midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is about to return to the lineup after serving a one-match ban.
With Juan Musso in objective, Merih Demiral is more likely to exchange Palomino alongside Giorgio Scalvini and captain Rafael Toloi within the again line. Koopmeiners ought to staff up with Marten De Roon in the midst of the park, with Hans Hateboer and Maehle overlaying the flanks. Rasmus Hojlund is predicted to steer the road upfront, supported by Lookman and Jeremie Boga.
Sampdoria
A tricky job awaits former Lazio and Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic, now in command of the staff at Sampdoria. He was appointed to the position in October, so the present state of affairs definitely can’t be put totally on his account, however there’s no escaping the truth that Sampdoria at the moment sit in nineteenth place with simply 9 factors, an enormous eight lower than Sassuolo as the closest rival occupying a spot warranting security on the finish of the season. Solely Cremonese, who’re but to win a league match this time period, are in a worse state of affairs with eight factors, whereas 18th-place Verona have 12 and maybe some real hope to remain up.
However for Sampdoria, it appears like they have to do their finest with out a lot hope for the ultimate consequence of the race. The extra optimistic amongst their supporters will level out that there’s half the season left to play, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a particularly steep mountain to climb.
Stankovic’s males started the present last-six run with a 0-2 defeat at house to Lecce again in mid-November. After the World Cup, they bagged a doubtlessly essential 1-2 win away to Sassuolo, however then they misplaced 0-2 at house to leaders Napoli, 1-0 away to Fiorentina within the Coppa, 1-0 away to Empoli, and 0-1 at house at palms of Udinese.
That newest blow to Sampdoria’s hopes was delivered by Kingsley Ehizibue within the 88th minute of the sport, and it might’ve damage badly.
Staff Information
Fullback Andrea Conti (tendon) and winger Ignacio Pusatto (knee) are damage doubts for this conflict, whereas attacking midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri (hamstring) and striker Manuel De Luca (knee) stay out, as does defender Omar Colley after selecting up a knee drawback towards Udinese.
Sam Lemmers and Manolo Gabiaddini ought to begin upfront, with 39-year-old Fabio Quagliarella on the bench regardless of the veteran’s wonderful file of 12 targets towards Atalanta. Filip Djuricic is more likely to play behind the strikers, with the duo of Harry Winks and Tomas Rincon deeper in the midst of the park, and Tomasso Augello and Mehdi Leris out vast. On the again, the trio of Bram Nuyticnk, Bruno Amione and Jeison Murillo are set to kind the final line in entrance of goalkeeper Emil Audero.
Conclusion
Atalanta are, in fact, sturdy favourites to win this sport and every little thing good Sampdoria could do will probably be towards the percentages. Stankovic’s staff misplaced the final three video games by conceding one objective whereas failing to attain any, however this ought to be a extra open contest with Atalanta very able to breaking via defensive strains of upper high quality than Sampdoria’s.
Verdict: Complete targets over 2.5
Greatest odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: 888sport