“I can guarantee that Sampdoria will not deprive themselves of Cassano, not even if the club don’t qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.”

Rumours had circulated over the weekend linking the fantasista with a move to Inter as a replacement for Mario Balotelli, who is said to be very close to signing for Manchester City. Bozzo denied there was any truth in this. “I haven’t been in touch with any Inter officials during this particular transfer window for my client.”

JC

Inter went into the game on the back of two disappointing draws, they were without Mario Balotelli, Davide Santon and Cristian Chivu for this one.

Sampdoria went into the game high on confidence after winning their last four league games. Once again Antono Cassano was left out, Nicola Pozzi took his place upfront.

The visitors had the first real sight on goal as Pazzini set off on a mazy run before putting in a teasing cross but there was no one there to meet it.

Samp had another good chance on 16 minutes when Pazzini flicked the ball onto Andrea Poli’s but his right-foot volley was saved by Julio Cesar.

The hosts should have broken the deadlock on the half-hour mark, Diego Milito headed the ball to Samuel Eto’o, but the Cameroon international fired wide from just 10 yards.

Just a minute later the game turned sour. Samuel was shown a straight red after his flailing arm caught Nicola Pozzi in the face.

This sparked a mass confrontation between the teams with Inter players accusing Pozzi of making too much of the challenge.

Things got worse for Inter just before the break, Cordoba picked up his second booking of the game for barging into Pazzini, Inter were now down to nine men.

Home fans and players were left fuming and the referee had to be given a police escort off the pitch at half-time.

Inter started the second half in determined fashion. After just 60 seconds Milito nearly carved a chance out of nothing, but his effort was charged down just before he could pull the trigger.

On the 53rd minute Inter again went close when a Wesley Sneijder free kick flew just past the top corner.

Sampdoria tried to push forward but failed to take advantage of the extra players they had on the field. Creating little chances to score.

Things took a turn for the worse for the Blucerchiati on the 73rd minute, when Pazzini received his second booking of the game, for a foul on Stankovic and was sent off.

Inter looked to take advantage of Sampdoria’s set back, but once again Eto’o missed a golden chance, Pandev played a neat ball through for the Cameroon striker but Storari blocked the shot.

The game finished 0-0. Sampdoria the happier of the two sides as they stretch their unbeaten run to 6 games. Inter leave the game with another disappointing draw.

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Samuel, Zanetti; Stankovic, Cambiasso, Muntari (Lucio 35); Sneijder (Thiago Motta 81); Milito (Pandev 71), Eto’o

Sampdoria: Storari; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Semioli (Padalino 83), Palombo, Poli (Tissone 79), Guberti (Mannini 56); Pozzi, Pazzini

Lombardo

Inter (1st)
Inter need little introduction, as the Champions juggernaut their way to another championship. But they have stalled a little in the last week. They were disappointing in a 0-0 draw in Naples last weekend (albeit a fixture they have usually struggled with in recent years), and weren’t overly convincing in the 1-1 draw at Parma before that. However back on home turf they are formidable and have only dropped four points from a possible 36 at the San Siro. They have won every home game since 8th November.

Inter have quality from front to back and are ruthlessly efficient under Mourinho, despite his increasingly bizarre attempts to get himself sacked. Milito has 14 goals in 21 games, while Balotelli, Etoo and new signing Pandev hasve also been scoring freely. Even the defence are dangerous, Maicon has a very impressive 3 goals and 6 assists from full back.

While the majority of the teams in Serie A struggle with finances, and the playing quality regresses accordingly, Inter continue to build and improve and widen the gap between themselves and the also rans.

Sampdoria (5th)
After a miserable December, Sampdoria have flown up the table in the last few weeks with four wins on the trot. Last weekends 2-0 win at home to Fiorentina was the most impressive of the lot. Fiorentina may have had their eye on the trip to Munich in midweek (and their performance in Munich would suggest they did), but they simply couldn’t live with Samp’s organisation and desire.

Whether its down to the dropping of Cassano or not, Samp have become much more cohesive in the last few weeks. New loan signings Storari and Guberti have fitted in well.

Samp beat Inter 1-0 in September, the result that really got people talking about their flying start to the season. But this was at home, where Samp are really strong this year. Samp may be in fine form and challenging for the Champions League spots, but on paper Inter away looks a severe test. Having been on the end of thrashings in Milan and Turin this season, it appears that Samp have a habit of collapsing in the big away games.

They will need all their new found confidence and willpower to avoid the same in the San Siro in Saturday nights live TV game.

Opposition dangerman
Take your pick really, but attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder is good to watch and is the man who makes Inter tick offensively. The 25 year old Dutchman did not make the impact many expected following his big move from Ajax to Real Madrid. But after a cut price move to Milan, Inter already look a poorer side without him.

Head to head
Sampdoria got draws in this fixture in 2006 and 2003 but apart from that, unsurprisingly, Inter dominate and usually win this one.

Prediction
I have tried desperately to find reasons to back Samp here. A 5th placed team in such good form, who have beaten Inter earlier in the season, and who play an Inter side who come off the back of two draws, mean there are real chances of an upset. If you could get Samp for around 10/1 they would be a good longshot bet, despite their poor performance in the big away games.

Unfortunately what has happened here is that the prices have adjusted to reflect all of this, and Inter are available at a temptingly generous 3/5. I make them 66% likely to win which means they should be more like 1/2 shots and so Inter look to be the bet…but I wont be betting.

Inter should win this. And probably to nil.

MUG_OUFC

There was surprises in both starting line-ups. Claudio Bellucci and Andrea Poli started in midfield for Sampdoria, Mario Balotelli supported the front two of Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o for Inter.

Balotelli showed his intentions early on as he fired in a shot from 30 yards but it was a comfortable catch for Castellazzi. Moments later Cambiasso split the Sampdoria defence open with a nice through ball to Diego Milito who cut it back for Cambiasso to fire in a shot forcing Castellazzi into a fine save.

At the other end a Cassano corner caused all sorts of problems in Inter’s penalty area but Palombo twice failed to connect properly, he should have scored.

As the half was coming to a close, Ziegler found himself in space just outside the area and fired in a shot producing a fine save from Julio Cesar.

Inter started the 2nd half well. Balotelli set up Milito who fired his shot wide.

Balotelli was proving to be Inter’s main threat, on the 55th mintute the 19 year old fired in a shot from just outside the box, producing a fine save from Castellazzi, Samp got lucky as Millito slipped just as he was about to receive the rebound.

Moments later Sampdoria earned a freekick after a high boot from Maicon. Ziegler swung the ball in, Gastadello got a flick on the ball and Pazzini fired just wide.

Samppdoria finally broke the deadlock on the 72nd minuted, Palombo dispossessed Santon just outside the area, he laid the ball onto Mannini who played a low pass across the box for Pazzini to tap in.

Inter responded by bringing on Quaresma for Cambiasso. The substitute thought he’d saved the game for Inter when his shot from the edge of the box was deflect in, but the goal was disallowed as Lucio was offside when he diverted the ball into the net.

In stoppage time Castellazzi pulled off an outstanding save from a Lucio freekick to seal all 3 points for the Blucerchiati and condemn Inter to their first defeat of the season.