Sampdoria vs Fiorentina

Sampdoria return home to host Fiorentina looking to continue their recent success at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. In fact, the side managed by Walter Mazzari have posted back to back 3-0 victories at home in their last 2 matches over Empoli and Reggina respectively. The Viola come into this match on a 4 match winless run, 5 if you count their last match which was a 1-1 draw away to Ascoli in the Coppa Italia.

The blucerchiati currently sit in 9^th place of Serie A with 20 points, 1 back of 8^th place Palermo.They have been quite Jekyll & Hyde like when it comes to playing at home or away. They lost 2 matches on the road over a 4 day period this week, first 3-2 away to Udinese at the Stadio Friuli and then dropped their Coppa Italia match away to Cagliari at the Sant’Elia.There are a couple of injury concerns this week for Mazzari as Montella and Delvecchio remain out. Samp will also be without the suspended Sammarco. Franceschini looks set to come on for Sammarco in a 3-4-2-1 scheme with Antonio Cassano as the lone striker and Bellucci playing to the left of Franceschini.

Cesare Prandelli has got his own problems in terms of injury concerns. Just when it appeared that things were getting back to normal with the return of Adrian Mutu, Fiorentina have now lost keeper Sebastian Frey until at least January as he underwent minor surgery this week. This means Lupatelli will be the man in goal at Marassi. The Viola’s 4 match winless run in Serie A has seen them drop back to 5^th place with 24 points, 4 back of Udinese. Their last win came back on the 3^rd of November when they won away to Lazio. Aside from Frey the only other injury concern is defender Gamberini so Dainelli and Kroldrup will be the center back combo with the returning Ujfalusi at the right fullback position. They will need to be extremely concentrated so as to help out Lupatelli in goal.

It’s interesting that despite not having Frey in goal, Prandelli will stick with a 4-3-3 set as both Mutu and Christian Vieri look set to start up front. This aggressiveness could come back to hurt Fiorentina if Sampdoria can maintain their recent positive form at home. This is especially true given the number of changes that Fiorentina have been forced to make at the back and in goal. Look for Samp to hold serve.

Prediction: Sampdoria 2-1.