Sampdoria Look Set For Uefa Cup Place
Following an inauspicious start to the season, Sampdoria have settled comfortably in the upper part of the table since the start of the new year. Coach Walter Mazzarri has done some fine work since taking over last summer from Walter Novellino, who had probably been with the Blucerchiati one season too long.
Much of their success has probably been down to the arrival of Antonio Cassano who, for all his raucous antics, has brought a lot of enthusiasm to a squad who were in desperate search of a a leader. However, the team have shown they can do well without him too.
Recently the former Real Madrid player (in fact, he is still owned by the Merengues) was suspended for five games following a quite ridiculously petulent outburst at the referee, but Samp have won four out of those five games.
The highlight was undoubtedly the away game against Milan, which Sampdoria won 2-1. It allowed them to gain revenge for the 5-0 home defeat to the Rossoneri earlier in the season, and gave them a major morale boost in the race for a European spot.
With seven games to go before the end of the season, Samp are level with Milan on 49 points in sixth and seventh place, with the Rossoneri ahead by virtue of the head-to-head rule. However, finishing seventh will be enough for the Blucerchiati to enter the Uefa Cup, unless either Lazio or Catania make it into the Coppa Italia final.
Livorno Face Difficult Struggle
Following a couple of solid seasons, even managing to qualify for the Uefa Cup in 2006, this season they’ve struggled from the start and never really got into a safe position in the table.
They started the season under former Inter assistant coach Nando Orsi, but he lasted only six matches before the more experienced Giancarlo Camolese took over. Although he managed to get the team in 13th place, they were never too far from the relegation zone.
Obviously the departure of talismanic striker Cristiano Lucarelli to Shakhtar Donetsk last summer had a negative effect on the team. The Italian international scored more than 60 goals for the club in the previous three seasons, so he was always going to be sorely missed.
His replacement Francesco ‘Ciccio’ Tavano has done quite well, scoring 10 goals, but he is clearly not at the level of Lucarelli, especially in terms of leadership.
Currently the team are in 17th place, and are one of four teams on 29 points (the others being Parma, Catania, and Cagliari), which suggests how close the relegation battle is once again. Their recent form doesn’t bode very well, however, as both Parma and Cagliari seem to be in better shape.
FORM GUIDE
Sampdoria
30/03 (Serie A): Empoli-Sampdoria 0-2
22/03 (Serie A): Sampdoria-Cagliari 1-1
19/03 (Serie A): Milan-Sampdoria 1-2
16/03 (Serie A): Sampdoria-Catania 3-1
09/03 (Serie A): Parma-Sampdoria 1-2
Livorno
30/03 (Serie A): Livorno-Siena 0-0
22/03 (Serie A): Udinese-Livorno 2-0
19/03 (Serie A): Livorno-Reggina 1-1
16/03 (Serie A): Livorno-Parma 1-1
09/03 (Serie A): Lazio-Livorno 2-0
TEAM NEWS
Sampdoria
Vincenzo Montella, Hugo Campagnaro, and goalkeeper Antonio Mirante are out injured.
Possible formation (3-5-2): Castellazzi; Lucchini, Gastaldello, Accardi; Maggio, Franceschini, Palombo, Sammarco, Pieri; Cassano, Delvecchio.
Livorno
Giuliano Giannichedda, Sergio Volpe, and Jose Vidigal are unfit.
Possible formation (3-5-2): Amelia; Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante; Balleri, Pulzetti, De Vezze, A. Filippini, Pasquale; Tavano, Rossini.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)
On his return from a five-match ban - which seriously dented his chances of making it to Euro 2008 - Cassano will be eager to impress and show Sampdoria what they’ve been missing out on. If it wouldn’t be for his notorious temper, his great skill and unpredictability would guarantee him a place in the Azzurri’s squad, which aside from Andrea Pirlo is lacking in highly creative players.
Francesco Tavano (Livorno)
Following an impressive season at Empoli - where he scored 19 goals - Tavano earned a big-time move to Valencia in 2006, but it was definitely a case of too much too soon. Despite being already 27 at the time, he showed he wasn’t quite ready for a big club yet, scoring no goals in three appearences. He was then loaned out to Roma, where he scored just twice in 14 apppearences, before moving to Livorno last summer. This season he’s scored a respectable 10 goals, so perhaps he’s one of those players who’s more comfortable playing with a mid-to-lower table club.
PREDICTION
Sampdoria-Livorno 2-0
Danilo Pochini
source: goal.com