U.C. SAMPDORIA

[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 31 - 7/4/07 (14.00 UK)

Sampdoria - Torino
Stadio Ferraris It’s a classic mid-table clash at the Luigi Ferraris on Saturday, as Sampdoria face Torino in a game where the relative lack of pressure on both sides should allow the two teams to play some free and entertaining football.

The Blucerchiati have three draws in the last five and lie in eighth place in the League. They got a point out of a balanced game away to Chievo Verona last time out. Man of the moment, Fabio Quagliarella, opened the scoring on 23 minutes but Matteo Brighi levelled things up.

Coach Walter Novellino seemed reasonably happy with his side after their draw, even if he was aware it was a game they could and maybe should have won. This time it looks like a 4-1-4-1 system, with captain and inspiration Sergio Volpi sitting in front of a defence, in which Giulio Falcone could take Luigi Sala’s place.

A booking for Andrea Parola means a one match ban for him and an opportunity for Swiss midfielder Reto Ziegler to come in and play the holding role next to Angelo Palombo. In attack it looks like Daniele Franceschini behind Fabio Bazzani.

As for their opponents, the Granata have won three of their last five and climbed to 12th place in the League. They actually drew their last game however, a 0-0 stalemate against Sicilian opposition. They had chances to score against Palermo but were not clinical enough, a problem they seemed to have solved in recent matches prior to the game.

Coach Giovanni De Biasi looks like sticking with his 4-2-3-1 formation. The one changed forced upon him will be at the back where Oscar Brevi’s booking last time out means he will have to watch this one from the stands. Gabriele Cioffi could come in to replace him at centre-back, elsewhere it looks like a slight reshuffle using the same players as last game.

Man on fire: Alessandro Rosina (Torino) – Being nicknamed ‘Rosinaldo’ by fans because of his skill and ability, the youngster is finally playing the kind of football we know he can.

Last season: Not Played

Form guide: Sampdoria (W L D D D) Torino (W L W W D)
Sampdoria (probable): Berti; Maggio, Falcone, Accardi, Zenoni; Volpi, Quagliarella, Ziegler, Palombo, Franceschini; Bazzani
Torino (probable): Abbiati; Comotto, Cioffi, Bovo, Balestri; Gallo, Ardito, Lazetic, Muzzi, Rosina; Abbruscato
Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

This should be a good game, especially with Quagliarella and Rosina in such good form.

[Forza_Roma]

Should be a great game...will be nice to see if Quagliarella tries another long range effort...i doubt it though...but his confidence is very high...he may net another this week!

[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Samp. Goal by Bonazzoli...Nice long through ball into the area and he puts it home

[D-Kin]

34' Brilliant from Quagliarella! Is there anything this man can't do?! He unleashes a cracking volley that is dipping in... no! Onto the roof of the net...

[D-Kin]

HT 1-0 to Sampdoria.

[Forza_Roma]

FT 1-0 Samp.

[D-Kin]

Good win for Sampdoria.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 31 - 7/4/07 (14.00 UK)

Sampdoria 1 - 0 Torino
Bonazzoli 17 (S)
Stadio Ferraris

An early goal from Emiliano Bonazzoli gave Sampdoria a confidence-boosting three points.

The Blucerchiati had drawn their last three on the trot and were eager to bump up their form for a late UEFA Cup surge. Andrea Parola and Francesco Flachi were suspended, while Emiliano Bonazzoli underwent surgery on his hand this week and required a special protective bandage to play. Youth team starlet Koman was given his Serie A debut. Toro had won three of their last five and missed Oscar Brevi on a ban.

Samp nearly opened the scoring in the first minute, as Christian Abbiati got down well to parry a Bonazzoli header.

New boy Koman made quite an impact, as he created the opener. His intelligent long ball found Bonazzoli in the area for a delicate right-foot finish past Abbiati.

Fabio Quagliarella was quiet early on in a tactical game, but his dipping chest and volley was just over the bar.

Quagliarella combined with Koman and Gennaro Delvecchio down the right flank, but Palombo's finish was too central.

Gianni De Biasi made two half-time substitutions, but Samp continued to have the better of the play with Bonazzoli just failing to latch on to a Quagliarella cross.

Cesare Bovo's free kick shaved the woodwork, but Toro were hit when Roberto Muzzi picked up a second booking for a foul on Volpi.

Sampdoria: Berti; Maggio, Falcone, Accardi, Zenoni; Volpi; Quagliarella (Ziegler 84), Palombo, Koman (Franceschini 76), Delvecchio; Bonazzoli (Bazzani 70)

Torino: Abbiati; Comotto, Cioffi, Bovo, Balestri; Gallo (Barone 46), Ardito; Lazetic (De Ascentis 46), Muzzi, Rosina; Abbruscato (Stellone 68.)

Ref: Pantana

Sent off: Muzzi 88 (T)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

Good for Bonazzoli....after going under the knife and coming in with a goal. Impressive. Too bad this season hasn't gone as well as last.

[D-Kin]

I still rate him, he's a good player but the injuries have held him back.

[Bentex]

Originally Posted by Joel

Youth team starlet Koman was given his Serie A debut.

New boy Koman made quite an impact, as he created the opener. His intelligent long ball found Bonazzoli in the area for a delicate right-foot finish past Abbiati.

Quagliarella combined with Koman and Gennaro Delvecchio down the right flank,

8)

[Forza_Roma]

Messina need this win if they hope to have any chance of avoiding Serie B.

[D-Kin]

It’s do or die for Messina this afternoon and Christian Riganò admits if they lose to Sampdoria “it really is over.”

The Sicilians are now five points adrift of the safety zone and under fire from their fans after the 3-1 defeat to rivals Reggina.

“At the end of the season I will be the first to pledge my loyalty and stay on if there are solid plans for the future,” said top scorer Riganò.

“However, if we lose to Sampdoria, then I won’t even bother coming back to the club headquarters…”

There is an air of finality about today’s meeting at Marassi, going into this game off the back of five consecutive defeats.

There are reports that another failure will see Coach Bruno Giordano sacked for the second time this season and replaced by youth team boss Carmelo Mancuso.

Giordano was unpopular with the fans and was fired only to be brought back a few weeks later following disappointing results with Alberto Cavasin at the helm.

“If we do not manage to get a result at Sampdoria, then we deserve to be relegated without the right to an appeal,” added defender Marco Zanchi.

“Even if we are not mathematically down yet, we can see the situation. What this game represents is an opportunity to prove we have character. We’ve done very badly at times this term, so it is our duty to end the campaign in dignified fashion.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Aladino]

HT Samp 1-0 Messina.

Samp have controlled the game and teh best chances falling to them. Zeigler with a great goal!