High-flying Sampdoria hope to extend the impressive run of results and further improve their chances of finishing the league campaign in the top half of the standings. Fiorentina, on the other hand, need to try and make amends for the home loss to AC Milan, especially with their Europa League berth no longer secure.

Survival is secured

Serie A table currently make pretty reading for Sampdoria fans, but the team had to endure some tough times in their battle to avoid relegation to Serie B. Club’s decision to appoint former player Sinisa Mihajlovic proved crucial as the Bluecerchiati showed considerable improvement under Serbian coach and eventually secured Serie A survival with eight games to go. Back to back defeats to AS Roma and AC Milan suggested Sampdoria could be in for a nervy finish of the season, but the team then seriously raised their form and went on to win four of next five matches, scoring 13 goals in the process. As a result, the Bluecerchiati can now play without any pressure and try to ensure the best possible finishing position and no doubts they will fancy their chances against injury-hit Fiorentina. With the hosts brimming with confidence and no longer worrying about relegation, Sampdoria can be expected to attack their more illustrious opponents from the off in an attempt to extend the amazing run of results.

Talented defender Vasco Regini misses out through suspension, whilst Andrea Costa is doubtful and Nenad Krsticic is out injured.

Champions League dream is over

Fiorentina were very unfortunate not to qualify for Champions League through league finish last season, but, in all fairness, they did not do enough to warrant a Champions League berth this term. Numerous injury problems certainly took the wind out of their sails, but Vincenzo Montella’s men should have, nonetheless, done better in the first 30 Serie A fixtures. After losing three of last five league matches, Fiorentina are in danger of missing out on Europe altogether, and they do need one morale-boosting win to kick-start their season. Team’s 7-3-5 away record in the league can give Viola reason for optimism ahead of the trip to Marassi, and it is unlikely anybody will be too concerned by the lengthy injury list as they are already used to it by now. The most important thing is Montella will still be able to field a very strong side, with the likes of Cuadrado, Matri and Ilicic likely to prove a handful for Sampdoria defence. Some important defenders will be missing, but I still believe this team have got enough quality to record a good result in Genoa.

Gonzalo Rodriguez misses out through suspension, while David Pizarro is doubtful with a back problem. Hegazy, Rossi, Rebic, Anderson, Gomez, Vargas, Compper and Pasqual are in the infirmary.

Verdict

Sampdoria have seriously raised their form of late and they are slowly becoming a real goalscoring machine. And with the hosts high on confidence at the moment, they can be trusted to adopt another positive approach. Taking also into account that Fiorentina always play attacking football, we could easily see goals galore at Marassi.

Top pick: Over 2.5 goals   2.20 (6/5) @ BetVictor

Alternative pick 1: Both teams to score   1.95 (19/20) @ Betfair

Alternative pick 2: Draw   3.30 (23/10) @ Ladbrokes