Sampdoria vs Inter Milan: Match Preview

Inter Milan’s wild 6-2 win over Crotone was a fun(?)...enthralling(?) start to 2021 but the Nerazzurri won’t have much more room for error as the January grind begins. Inter play four times over the next eleven days, starting with a trip to Sampdoria, and the league table is as tight as ever.

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Claudio Ranieri’s side is mired in 11th place with 17 points, though its six-point gap over the relegation zone could close quicker than Sampdoria would like. The Blucerchiati have won twice in its last eleven games, scoring more than one goal in a game only four times. Though Antonio Candreva has contributed a goal and four assists since he joined, 37-year-old Fabio Quagliarella is still heavily relied on for the goal-scoring output. That hasn’t quite worked out, and Sampdoria has struggled in front of goal all season.

Defensively Sampdoria hasn’t been much better, as it has conceded the 7th most in Serie A and just one shutout to its name all season. Even so, Sampdoria has picked up impressive victories against Atalanta and Lazio, as well as narrow one-goal defeats to Milan, Napoli, and Roma.

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With Milan meeting Juventus Wednesday, Inter has a chance to jump into first or at least open up a bigger gap on the champions. The Nerazzurri will have to do so with Romelu Lukaku, though, who picked up a slight issue in his right thigh. An in-form Lautaro Martinez may be able to help offset that, as well as Alexis Sanchez’s return to the starting eleven.

Previous Results

Inter has won its last six outings against Sampdoria, outscoring the Blucerchiati 16-5. The all-time record is unsurprisingly also in Inter’s favor by a margin of 21 wins to 11, plus 5 draws.

• 3-1 (A) - 28/9/19
• 2-1 (H) - 21/6/20

Predicted Starting XIs

Sampdoria (4-4-1-1): Audero; Beresynski, Yoshida, Tonelli, Augello; Candreva, Thorsby, Silva, Damsgaard; Verre; La Gumina.

Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; Bastoni, de Vrij, Skriniar; Darmian, Sensi, Brozovic, Barella, Hakimi; Lautaro, Sanchez.

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Prediction: Sampdoria 0-2 Inter Milan

Sampdoria won’t be easy to beat, especially without a physical presence like Lukaku in attack able to cause problems. The Nerazzurri should have enough firepower anyway to earn a ninth straight win and keep pace at the top of the table.

Forza Inter!