Inter v Sampdoria: Halloween Trick or Treat?

What: Inter v Sampdoria, Serie A Gameday 10
Where: San Siro Milan
When: Wednesday, October 31, 8:45 local time (12:45pm pacific, 3:45pm eastern)
How to Watch: I cant find any live coverage in the US at all. Non-US Channels here. Find a stream here.

BeIN Espanol will be showing the game on replay at 6:30pm pacific, 9:30pm eastern. BeIN Sport at 2am on Thursday morning

LOOKING BACK

Game statistics (Serie A games, at home):

As you can see, Inter usually win this tie. In fact, Sampdoria hasn't taken full points from the San Siro in the Serie A since 1996 when Branca (yes, that Branca) got a brace and Mancini (yes, that Mancini) got the winning goal for Samp. The game finished 3-4 and I bet it was a corker! (highlights) They spent last season in Serie B, but the year before, this tie finished 1-1 with goals from Eto'o and Guberti.

THEM

Sampdoria haven't had the best start to the season. Not the worst, but probably not as good as they would hope. They have 10 points and are in 12th place, having won only three games this season (Pescara, Siena, and Milan). They have had a couple draws as well, though, and most teams haven't been able to put more than one past them.

Over the summer, Samp changed practically their whole squad. They got back players on loan (from us) like Palombo (who has been playing with the youth squad) and beautiful Andrea Poli (curse you Samp) while purchasing new players outright like Biabany and Eder. They also got some talent on loan, like Maxi Lopez. So, ya, they could totally cause us some trouble if they want.

I would write more, but I have just come back from my best friend's birthday gathering and, I wont lie, I am a little tipsy. Just remember this as you read the rest of the post. It was good wine, though, and we all had fun, so at least there is that. This preview, though, is an entirely different story. It will be short, not so sure on the sweet.

Rano appears to be monkey in the middle. via www.inter.it

US

Stramaccioni called up 21 for this game:

Goalkeepers: Handanovic, Castellazzi, Belec;
Defenders: Zanetti, Silvestre, Ranocchia, Samuel, Pereira, Jonathan, Bianchetti, Nagatomo;
Midfielders: Alvarez, Guarin, Mudingayi, Cambiasso, Gargano, Duncan;
Forwards: Palacio, Milito, Livaja, Cassano.

Coutinho and Sneijder are injured, Sneijder will be re-assessed after the Juve game. Obi is being swaddled (or so Strama says) and wont be risked until he is 100% fit. We wont even discuss Chivu and Stankovic. Who knows when they will be back. Juan Jesus is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Guarin and Ranocchia are a card away from suspension and Juve is next so Strama may have to make some decisions. Of course, as he pointed out, if we dont win tomorrow, the game against Juve wont be a head to head any more. I have no idea what Strama will come up with, but I am growing to trust his judgement. If he can pull off a win against Samp then a positive result against Juve, well, he will be a super hero. But one step at a time.

Finally, Strama admitted why it is so hard to predict who he is going to play. He said:

"Today Inter don't have a best XI. We have two systems which allow us to change tactics. You need a touch of unpredictability. We can play with two or three up top, and the ability to switch formations is a strength of ours: so indeed is the desire of my players. I've never seen any lack of desire or determination."

Great. Now I will never be able to pin him down. Likely Samuel will play, and with Juan Jesus out, Silvestre will be a likely replacement. Or maybe Cuchu will drop back... Who can say? It is MADDENING! At least we finally have a full compliment of strikers. Of course, we only have two spots for them to fill, though. I suspect that Cassano and Milito will get first go with Palacio stepping in if they are having difficulties. Both played less than a full game against Bologna so should be ready to go. Plus, now that Milito finally has a goal, maybe he will start to get hot again.

Ok, so we all know, we are one slip up from glory at this point. If we can continue how we have been and Napoli make one small mistake, we will be in like Flynn (like Errol Flynn to be exact).

Now, I wont be here for the Juve game. Before you all get agitated, I am taking my mother to San Diego for her birthday. I will be away for the weekend and deep into family obligation territory. I am counting on all of you to hold down the fort and generate enough positive vibes that we have the barest snipped of a chance against them. Besides, you wouldn't want me around anyway. I will be a wreck this weekend - I am already getting nervous. I will be back on Monday and ready for our Thursday EL game against Partizan.

So, go Inter and let's show that we got what it takes this year. Oh, and dont forget that Inter's Primavera squad travel to Norway to take on Rosenborg tommorow in the Next Gen series. The game starts at 7pm local time. Go Go Inter Babies!

FORZA INTER

Proof once again that all the best people are Inter fans. Carlo Molfetta, gold medalist in taekwondo in the London 2012 Olympics is a huge Inter fan. He visited La Pinetina to watch training today and was presented with a signed Zanetti jersey (everybody loves Pupi). In return, he gave our captain a gi. And I am sure that hilarity ensued.

Gold medalist fan-boy meets Pupi and Strama. via www.inter.it