Sampdoria is in 16th place and is very close above the relegation zone, so they desperately will try to win the game. We’ll see deathmatch in Serie A tonight
Sampdoria close above the relegation zone
Sampdoria have picked up 40% of their Serie season points in their last six fixtures (eight of 20), but the relegation threat still looms large. The hosts have struggled with their starts, remaining the only Serie A side that have failed to score in the first 30 minutes, while netting just five of 20 overall league goals before the interval. First-half blanks in 17 of their 21 Serie A games mean Sampdoria have led only twice at the range. Scoring obviously is a problem area, with eight blanks and ten Serie A games featuring exactly one Sampdoria goal. Four of their five Serie A wins have subsequently come via a single-goal margin, with three ending 1-0. Amid all that, Sampdoria have managed to pick up 13 of 20 Serie A points at home.
Napoli hoping to win three games in a row
It’s too early to speak of a Napoli revival. Still, a 2-1 win over Juventus halted a three-match losing streak in Serie A. That score remains Napoli’s staple, with six of their 15 Serie A matches to see a winner finishing 2-1. Furthermore, ten of those mentioned above 15 were decided by a single-goal margin. That said, four of Napoli’s last seven Serie A away matches have been draws, with three finishing 1-1. However, just one clean sheet in their ten Serie A road trips speak of Napoli’s defensive struggles. Scoring first is an advantage, though, with the team doing so remaining unbeaten in 16 of Napoli’s 19 Serie A matches, excluding goalless draws.
Will not play
Questionable from Sampdoria: Depaoli – Ankle injury, Ferrari – Knee injury.
From Napoli: Malcuit – Knee injury, Mertens – Groin injury; Questionable: Allan – Muscle injury, Ghoulam – Thigh injury, Koulibaly – Leg injury, Ospina – Stomach disorder.
Players to watch
Fabio Quagliarella has been Sampdoria’s last scorer in each of the three Serie A matches he netted. Meanwhile, Arkadiusz Milik has been Napoli’s first scorer with five of his six Serie A strikes.
Stat attack: Sampdoria have managed seven Serie A clean sheets, but have conceded at least twice in ten of 14 matches otherwise.
Six of Napoli’s 29 Serie A goals against have come beyond the 80th minute.
Both teams have scored in eight of Napoli’s ten Serie A road trips.