Thursday, March 28, 2024

Prediction: Sampdoria vs Milan

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: 888sport

As the 2019/20 season slowly draws to its close in the Serie A, AC Milan will travel to Genoa in the round before last to pay a visit to Sampdoria at the Luigi Ferraris stadium on Wednesday. The game itself won’t mean much for the hosts at this point, but it could prove vital for the Rossoneri.

Sampdoria

Many years have passed since Sampdoria were reckoned among the more formidable teams in the Italian top flight, and this campaign can hardly be described as a glorious one for Claudio Ranieri’s team. The experienced tactician, who’s greatest success was probably the Premier League title with Leicester City in 2015/16, took over from Eusebio Di Francesco in October last year, after the latter lasted just over a month in the job, but it seems all he could do was to help them avoid relegation.

That they have already achieved, sitting in 15th place with 41 points, nine more than Lecce who top the danger zone. Torino, directly below on 39, can also breathe a sigh of relief, but Genoa in 17th with 36 still have work to do.

Sampdoria’s form has recently been quite decent, with three wins and three defeats from their last six outings, but they lost the last two encounters to Genoa at home and away to Juventus.

Team News

Ranieri won’t be able to call upon winger Felice D’Amico and midfielder Albin Ekdal due to injuries. Defender Omar Colley and midfielder Ronaldo Vieira missed the Juventus clash through suspension, but both are now back in contention.

AC Milan

Just like Sampdoria, Milan are a mere shadow of their former selves at the moment, though in their case, the past was simply glorious. Now, however, they are forced to watch fierce rivals Juventus win the Serie A title year after year, and even their city rivals Inter seem to be pulling away.

The Rossoneri are currently locked in a battle to return to Europe, and even though they have no chance of reaching the Champions League this time around, a place in the Europa League is well within their grasp. They travel to face Sampdoria sitting in sixth place with 60 points, four less than AS Roma in fifth and only a point above Napoli in seventh. It’s likely to be a thrilling race right down to the last minutes of the final round.

Stefano Pioli’s team have been on great form in recent matches, winning four of their last six in the league and drawing the other two. They drew 1-1 against third-place Atalanta the last time around, and beat Sassuolo away before that.

Team News

Fullback Theo Hernandez and midfielder Ismael Bennacer were suspended against Atalanta, but both of them are back now and should get the nod ahead of Diego Laxalt and Lucas Biglia, respectively. Defenders Alessio Romagnoli and Andrea Conti are, however, injured and remain unavailable for selection.

Conclusion

With a vast difference in motivation as well as quality between the two teams, it’s not very likely the home team will be able to prevent the Rossoneri from taking all three points home with them. Milan are on a great run and have a lot to play for, which cannot be said of Sampdoria.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: 888sport

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Veselin Trajkovic


Vesko is a football writer that likes to observe the game for what it is, focusing on teams, players and their roles, formations, tactics, rather than stats. He follows the English Premier League closely, Liverpool FC in particular. His articles have been published on seven different football blogs.

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