Preview: Udinese v Sampdoria

Udinese v Sampdoria
Sunday 24th January 2010
Friuli, Udine

Udinese (15th)

Like Samp, Udinese have frozen this Winter having won only once in the league since October. Giovanni De Biasi has been in charge for a month but seems to have had little impact, having only managed one coppa Italia victory. And everyone knows they don’t count.

Last time out Udinese picked up what looks like a solid point away to Parma. However Udinese were quite fortunate to find themselves playing against ten men for a large proportion of the game. And despite Parma being ham-pered by this ham-dicap, they still had chances to win including a missed penalty.

At home Udinese’s last fixture saw points shared with what at the time looked an improving Lazio side. Preceding this Udinese slumped to three straight away defeats to mostly poor opposition.

Udinese are a typical mid-table Italian side, picking up enough points at home to avoid slipping into the relegation battle, while ritually losing and drawing away from home. But having played four of their last five games away from home, Udinese’s recent form may be a little skewed. They will be glad to get back to the Friuli where they have only lost twice this season.

As of Thursday morning, Udinese appear to have no new injury or suspension concerns coming into this game. Gokhan Inler returns to the fold in midfield.

Sampdoria (13th)

Sampdoria’s decline from the heady heights of the beginning of the season has been dramatic. One win in twelve, with seven defeats, leaves Samp suddenly looking nervously down the table rather than optimistically up.

What has happened to Sampdoria? At the start of the season they were top and had beaten Inter. Now they are 13th and dropping quicker than Cristiano Ronaldo under a slightly heavy challenge. The truth of how good Samp really are is probably somewhere in between the two extremes, but there is no doubt their current run of results is relegation form.

Last time out Sampdoria slumped to a desperately disappointing home draw with unfancied Catania, having gone behind early to a Llama free kick. This certainly gave the Marassi faithful the hump and they made their feelings known at the end of the game. Astonishing reports that Pazzini and Mannini were attacked by unhappy Doria fans after the match indicates exactly how bad things have got. Rumours that Mannini tried to fight back but couldn’t beat the first man are unsubstantiated.

Morale in the camp has got to be rock bottom, and a tough looking trip to provincial Udine is not favourable for any team this low on confidence.

Sampdoria’s away form has been desperate this season, particularly so in recent games with six straight away defeats. On current form, if Sampdoria played against themselves outside of Marassi, both teams would lose.

Nevertheless, there were promising debuts for on-loan pair Marco Storari in goal and Stefano Guberti in midfield in the Catania game, and despite the poor results Sampdoria haven’t been on the end of any big defeats. Yet.

Antonio Cassano is reported as being doubtful for the game with a ‘minor’ injury. Samp can ill afford to be without him and may press him into service in spite of the injury. If he does miss out, this is a serious blow.

Opposition dangerman
Antonio Di Natale. Despite his 5 foot 7 inches, the 32 year old skilful forward and captain hasnt come up short this season with 12 goals to his name.

Head to head
Udinese have the advantage at home with three wins, two draws and one defeat in the last six years. Sampdoria haven’t won in Udine since 2004. Last seasons this fixture finished 1-1, almost exactly 12 months ago and with both teams in similar runs of form.

Prediction
Two teams who can’t win face each other here, and therefore it is logical that a draw wouldn’t be the most surprising result, especially in view of last seasons draw in similar circumstances.

However, home advantage and comparative home/away form should not be ignored and on both these counts Udinese have the clear advantage. If Cassano is out for Samp, this strengthens the case for a home win and more misery for Sampdoria fans.

Udinese to win

MUG_OUFC

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