Inter Milan make the trip to Marassi as they take on one of their favourite opponents, Sampdoria and hope to extend their 100% record in Serie A.
Sampdoria boss Roberto D’Aversa will be wary of the mounting pressure on him and his team when they host Inter Milan at Marassi. Sampdoria have endured a difficult start to the Serie A season, collecting just a solitary point from their two opening fixtures while they are yet to find the net.
To address the issue, Sampdoria dipped into the transfer market and signed Francesco Caputo on deadline day from Sassuolo. However, D’Aversa’s struggles could continue if Inter sweep them aside to pile more pressure on the manager who only suffered relegation last season with Parma.
However, topping last season’s top-half finish is already looking like a difficult prospect this time out after disappointing early results. D’Aversa needs to get his team up and running soon or might find himself in a tough spot on the table, although a win over Inter could ease up the pressure, and the fans can look forwards to positive things.
Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi has got off to a brilliant start with Inter, ensuring his new side collect all points from their two fixtures so far. Despite Inter Milan losing their title-winning manager Antonio Conte and some star names in the summer market, the team still looks strong enough from all sides.
While the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi will be much missed, Inter have strengthened significantly over the summer, bringing in reliable replacements. New signings Hakan Calhanoglu, Joaquin Correa and Edin Dzeko have had bright starts, helping Inter win against Genoa and Hellas Verona.
A total of seven goals were scored from those two fixtures, while Inter have maintained an impressive run of getting at least a strike in each of their last 21-league games. Inzaghi will be hopeful of collecting all three points against Sampdoria and continue their recent success against this familiar opposition.
Team News & Tactics
Sampdoria
D’Aversa has a few problems with the injuries to his forwards ahead of the game on Sunday. Manolo Gabbiadini sprained his ankle on the opening matchday, while Ernesto Torregrossa also has a fitness problem. Those absences could open the door for Francesco Caputo to make his debut for Sampdoria after signing on deadline day.
Elsewhere, Albin Ekdal and Bartosz Bereszynski are huge doubts for this particular game, as D’Aversa will have to tinker hard to field a strong starting lineup against Inter.
D’Aversa could field a standard 4-4-2 formation to thwart the attacking intent Inter would expectedly display. The back four of Fabio Depaoli, Maya Yoshida, Omar Colley and Tommaso Augello could be in front of goalkeeper Emil Audero.
Former Inter Milan winger Antonio Candreva will certainly start against his old side, alongside former Leicester midfielder Adrien Silva, Morten Thorsby and in-demand Danish star Mikkel Damsgaard. Further up the field, D’Aversa will give new signing Caputo his debut and partner him alongside veteran 38-year-old striker Fabio Quagliarella.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Audero; Depaoli, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Candreva, Silva, Thorsby, Damsgaard; Caputo, Quagliarella
Inter Milan
The recent South American games created a furore across European leagues, and like many teams, it could affect Inter. Star striker Lautaro Martinez arrived very late after playing for Argentina this week. Inzaghi might opt to rest the striker than rush him into the side.
The manager has plenty of alternative options to cover the Argentine’s absence. Inzaghi will likely start Stefano Sensi in an advanced role behind striker Edin Dzeko, as the Bosnian will look to add further goals and assists to his name.
Inzaghi could retain his team’s shape and deploy his speciality, a 3-5-1-1 style that has produced brilliant results so far. The idea is to have Calhanoglu pull strings from a slightly deeper role, with Nicolo Barella doing something similar. At the same time, Marcelo Brozovic provides the screening in front of the back-three.
There’s competition for places on the right-wing back berth. New arrival Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian are fighting for the spot, although Inzaghi might prefer the Italian. Federico Dimarco will play on the opposite left-wing back slot. Samir Handanovic will begin in goal behind the back-three unit of Milan Skriniar, Stefan Di Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni.
Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Sensi; Dzeko
Key Stats
- Inter Milan are unbeaten in 24 of their previous 26 away games in Serie A.
- Inter Milan have beaten Sampdoria in 7 of their last 8 games.
- Inter Milan have scored at least 2 goals in each of their last 7 Serie A matches.
- Sampdoria’s Antonio Candreva, if selected, will make his 400th Serie A appearance.
- Sampdoria have conceded 2-5 goals against Inter in 8 of their last 9 games.
Player to Watch
Edin Dzeko
The veteran striker remains a threat despite his advancing age. Having moved in from Roma, the Bosnian has already started to prove his worth at the San Siro. Dzeko has paid dividends by scoring once and assisting twice in two Serie A games.
Despite his positive start, the Bosnian will continue to have the pressure of filling the vacant boots left by Romelu Lukaku, who played a huge role in Inter’s Scudetto win last season. He is someone to focus on when the Nerazzurri face Sampdoria, against whom Dzeko has scored six goals, including a hattrick in the last meeting.
Prediction
Sampdoria 0-2 Inter Milan
Inzaghi’s men are the are firm favourites to beat familiar opponents Sampdoria this weekend to maintain their 100% record in Serie A this season. The Nerazzuri have been clinical in attack and resilient in defence, while Sampdoria have not been at the top of their form.
Expect the likes of Edin Dzeko and Hakan Calhanoglu to star against Sampdoria and help Inter Milan maintain the top spot in the table, while piling up further pressure on D’Aversa and his reign at Sampdoria.