Preparations at fever pitch as 2,000 Doria fans prepare to follow Samp in Sicily

Preparations are running smoothly for Sampdoria ahead of their vital clash in Palermo this Sunday. Contributing to the positive air around Bogliasco is the news of Andrea Poli's contract being extended to 2014. The young mid-field talent is expected to regain his starting position after missing the last match against Livorno with a stomach virus, which kept him bed-ridden on Sunday. Since Tuesday he has been back at training and showed no signs of fatigue on Wednesday during the double session. The only players missing on Wednesday were in fact Palombo and Pazzini, who will return from national team training duties on Thursday for the hit-out against amateur side Fidentina. With regards to the team that faced Livorno, Stefano Guberti is expected to regain his spot on the wing, while Tissone and Mannini will aim to make an impact from the bench, as they have done very successfully during the last month.

The importance of the match, which could see the return of Sampdoria to top-flight European competiton after an absence of 18 years, was underlined by President Riccardo Garrone when he commented during the week that:

"What presents itself now is without doubt the greatest opportunity that has arisen in the 8 years that I have been President. We went close in 2005, enough to finish one point beneath a team that went on (Udinese). This time we have really earned our stripes and it's a fantastic chance, so we're pouring everything into gaining at the place at the table that we deserve."

The sense of occasion is at fever pitch in Genova this week, as Blucerchiati fans have already pulverised the 2000 tickets available for the away fans section at the Stadio Barbera. They have even gone so far as to charter two planes to make the trip to Sicily. Defensive Right-back Luciano Zauri expressed his gratitude saying :

"For us it's the best. They'll make us feel us feel at home, and to see our fans support is a fundamental reference point for us. We all know the importance of this game, it's a game like all the others, but to leave that stadium undefeated would mean a lot."

Argentine Mid-fielder Fernando Damian Tissone was a little more mirthful in an interview with local paper Il Secolo XIX

"If we win, we'll finish our campaign a day in advance, and maybe we can even aim for third spot, if Milan loses.. but I don't think Genoa will be giving us a hand! Just joking, otherwise there'll be another mess like after Lazio-Inter. Anyway, we won't be looking for a draw as playing like that is not our strong-point, as Mr Del Neri has said. We need to repeat the kind of performance we gave in Roma.

I've heard that there will be a pretty hostile crowd, in fact I'm sure that they will whistle us every time we have the ball. Personally, a situation like that just spurs me on.  And besides, it's every soccer players dream to play in a full stadium."

He also spent a couple of words on his future at the club, stating:

"My wish is to stay here, at Sampdoria. It doesn't only depend on me, however, as I'm in co-ownership, but I'll do everything I can to make that wish come true."

Del Neri’s record-breaking year continues

It was a relieved Luigi Del Neri who fronted the press shortly after his Sampdoria side took the win again, this time over Livorno, consolidating the Blucerchiati in fourth place and realising their fifth win a row. The manager from the Friulian town of Aquilea was more wary of this match than any other, as against the 'big' clubs his men have done exceedingly well - whereas if there have been lapses in concentration, it has happened against lesser rated opposition.

"Today's match was really difficult - Del Neri began - because there was only one result we could accept if we were to continue our dream of finishing in fourth. Everybody had us penned in for the win, but instead we had to fight for the three points. This victory, like the last few the team has won, gives us the belief to go ahead and play the last two matches in the best possible manner. In the second half of the season the lads have always turned up for the big occasion and this makes me confident ahead of the next two against Palermo and Napoli."

Next Sunday Sampdoria will be in Sicily to battle out their rivals for the fourth and last Champions League spot. The Rosaneri are two points behind, but will have the home-field advantage.

"We have two more matches to play that are obviously to be seen as two finals. However, I have always maintained that fourth place will be decided on the last day of the championship: Now we will focus on the match with Palermo, which we are going to approach will our heads high, without thinking about being able to count on one of two results. We are a team that is able to control a match, we just have to remain positive on the pitch and play with the confidence of a team that has already achieved something very important."

Del Neri has every reason to speak highly of his team, as they have put together a campaign that has exceeded any previous expectations. At 63, they now have the record number of points for a Sampdoria team, and have won 18 matches, the next highest after the 20 won in 1990/91's Scudetto season.

"What has happened up to now fills us with satisfaction. At a personal level I have never won five matches in a row, but thanks to these lads, I've broken the umpteenth taboo this year. We're assured of a European place, three games prior to the end of the season, something which in fact has not been discussed a lot. Now we are in position to reach a even more important milestone: we will try with all our might, but whatever happens, what this group have already achieved will remain extraordinary."

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