Inter vs Sampdoria preview

February 19, 2016
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Inter vs SampdoriaHaving suffered a defeat to Fiorentina in the top 3 six-pointer, Inter Milan have no choice but to beat Sampdoria if they want to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Meanwhile, the Blucerchiati sit mere three points above the dotted line and are desperate to end a seven-match winless run.

As much as Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini was desperate to point out that his side had the quality to mount a serious title challenge, chances are that not too many people believed his words.

The reality is the Nerazzurri were quite fortunate to emerge victorious in a number of close ties and that was the main reason why led the title chase in the first place.

But, as expected, they soon started to struggle and following the costly defeat to Fiorentina, where they squandered a one-goal lead, their Champions League qualification is in danger as well.

Having suffered defeats to Juventus, AC Milan and Viola of late, the Nerazzurri desperately need a morale-boosting win and they are 1.60 (3/5) to succeed in their quest.

Following a three-match winless run at Giuseppe Meazza, Inter went on to defeat Chievo in their previous home fixture and they will want to start a new winning run on home soil.

However, they will have to make do without the suspended Gary Medel, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Alex Telles, but at least there are no injury worries.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Handanovic – D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Nagatomo – Brozovic, Melo – Perisic, Eder, Palacio – Icardi.

Sampdoria have come a long way since securing Europa League qualification last term and we don’t mean that in a good way.

The Blucerchiati have quickly become genuine relegation strugglers, and no wonder the fans are furious with chairman Massimo Ferrerro for selling the likes of Eder, Okaka and Obiang.

Sampdoria are now effectively in the relegation tussle having failed to win any of their last seven fixtures (D2 L5), meaning they will be under pressure when they take on Inter Milan this weekend.

If we disregard the victory over local rivals Genoa at what is basically their home ground, the Blucerchiati have lost eight of ten away games this term.

The return of Lorenzo De Silvestri and Niklas Moisander will provide the much needed boost for Vincenzo Montella’s charges, while Luis Muriel should be preferred to Antonio Cassano.

There are some injury worries for the visitors though as Carlos Carbonero, Modibo Diakite, Pedro Pereira and Jacopo Sala are al out.

Probable starting line-up (3-5-2): Viviano – Moisander, Ranocchia, Silvestre – Cassani, Barreto, Fernando, Soriano, Dodo – Muriel, Quagliarella.

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