[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 29 - 17/3/07 (19.30 UK)
Sampdoria - Palermo

Stadio Ferraris

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Palermo look to arrest their recent slide as they arrive at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to face an inconsistent Sampdoria side.

It could be another frustrating season for the Sampdoria faithful. The Blucerchiati’s patchy form has seen them overtaken by Fiorentina despite the Viola’s 15-point Calciopoli handicap and their chances of securing European football for next season are in the balance.

Last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Cagliari was an apt demonstration of Doria’s tendency to miss out on maximum points and has left Walter Novellino’s men in eighth place and in danger of being sucked into mid-table. Samp need to start winning soon and to do so will need key figures like Gennaro Delvecchio to come good.

After a fairytale start to the campaign the wheels have come off for Palermo. The Rosanero are without a win in six and have been leapfrogged by Lazio. If they don’t remember how to win soon they could lose their Champions League place to Empoli or Milan.

Coach Francesco Guidolin must watch from the stands after receiving a three-match ban for his dismissal and touchline row with Cesare Prandelli last weekend. The Sicilians drew 1-1 with Fiorentina despite playing much of the game with 10 men, but felt aggrieved as the Viola scored while Roberto Guana was down injured. The excuses will run out soon if Guidolin can’t get his side firing again.

Palermo secured a comfortable 2-0 win when the two sides met at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Week 10 during their lightning start to the campaign.

Novellino is without ex-Palermo pair Gianluca Berti and Christian Terlizzi and captain Sergio Volpi due to injury. Cristian Zenoni and Francesco Flachi are suspended. Ruben Olivera may have to settle for a seat on the bench once more.

The visitors have a few selection problems. In addition to long-term absentee Amauri, ex-Sampdoria midfielder Eugenio Corini and defender Ciro Capuano are injured. Roberto Guana seems to have recovered from the injury he sustained against Fiorentina. Andrea Caracciolo and Cristian Zaccardo are suspended. Uruguayan striker Edison Cavani scored with a superb volley within minutes of his debut as a substitute last weekend, but may have to settle for being a super sub again.

Man on fire: Luca Castellazzi (Sampdoria) – After an excellent performance against Lazio in Week 27, the Milanese ‘keeper was superb against Cagliari last weekend making three top-quality saves.

Last season: Sampdoria 0-2 Palermo

Form guide: Sampdoria (W L W L D) Palermo (D D D L D)

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Sampdoria (probable): Castellazzi; Maggio, Falcone, Accardi, Pieri; Franceschini, Palombo, Delvecchio, Ziegler; Quagliarella, Bonazzoli

Palermo (probable): Fontana; Cassani, Biava, Barzagli, Pisano; Diana, Guana, Simplicio, Bresciano, Di Michele; Brienza

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