Serie A Week 23 – 5 Feb 2017 (11.30 UK)
Milan – Sampdoria
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
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Sampdoria took a massive scalp by beating Roma last week and now try to repeat the trick with a decimated Milan.
Vincenzo Montella finally returns to San Siro after traveling in back to back matches in Torino and Udine. The Rossoneri quickly fell to eighth place in the table, albeit with a game against Bologna in hand, and they need all the points they can get following their dip in form in their latest run of losses against Napoli, Juventus and Udinese. Marco Giampaolo is hoping his players can fuel on the momentum created by their upset against second-placed Roma, and hope that with a maximum effort a similar result can be achieved.
Sampdoria’s line-up will remain basically unchanged from the one that overcame Roma last weekend, spearheaded in attack with Fabio Quagliarella and Luis Muriel. The Colombian will hope to continue to find the back of the net, as his late deflected free kick was the decider in the Blucerchiati victory last fixture. Quagliarella perhaps faces competition from supersub Patrik Schick.
Bruno Fernandes occupies the free role behind the forwards and will be relied upon as the creative force going forward. Young Slovakian Milan Skriniar combines with experienced Matias Silvestre in the defence, both of whom will be given the role of keeping Milan’s scoring chances to a minimum.
Unfortunately for Milan, they will have to do without inspirational Giacomo Bonaventura, who is out for the next four months. This should give the newly transferred Gerard Deulofeu his first start. Montella must motivate his team to play with intensity and to do whatever is necessary to win. Injuries to Mattia De Sciglio, Davide Calabria and Luca Antonelli leave Montella no choice but to start Leonel Vangioni at left back, which could be a weak spot considering the Argentine has played less than 20 minutes this season.
Milan will need a well-balanced effort to guarantee all three points in what could be a challenging match. No stranger to high pressure fixtures, the Rossoneri need to better in front of the net to return to form. In their last three matches Milan have only managed one goal per game, and will likely need to start compounding their goal tallies in order to be victorious. Visitors Sampdoria will be ready to pounce on every Milan mistake, with Giampaolo searching for back-to-back wins for the first time in two months.
Keep an eye on: Alessio Romagnoli (Milan) – With injuries to De Sciglio and Antonelli, extra responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the former Sampdoria centre-back and Italy international to solidify the left side of defence alongside inexperienced Leonel Vangioni.
Form Guide: Milan (L L D W D) Sampdoria (W L D L D)
Last season: Milan 4-1 Sampdoria
Stat fact: Sampdoria have not beaten Milan since August 2012, home and away in all competition, and lost the last four in a row.
Top tip: Both teams to score.
Milan (probable): Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, Vangioni; Kucka, Locatelli, Pasalic; Suso, Bacca, Deulofeu
Suspended: None
Sampdoria (probable): Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto, Torreira, Praet; Fernandes; Quagliarella, Muriel
Suspended: None
Prediction Milan win 3-1
