U.C. SAMPDORIA

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 15 - 10/12/06 (14.00 UK)
Sampdoria - Siena

Stadio Ferraris

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Two of Serie A’s most inconsistent sides meet at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Week 15 when Sampdoria host Siena. The visitors were one of the surprise packages of the season up until their recent slump and they will be hoping to continue their decent form away from Tuscany, which is far superior to their home form.

However, Samp will have other ideas after snapping a two-game losing streak with a win at Messina. That result was picked up without influential midfield ace Sergio Volpi, who has been a crucial element for the port outfit this term. His suspension is up though, so it is likely that the 32-year-old will come back into the side in place of Andrea Parola.

Fabio Quagliarella has been another of Doria’s top performers, but he was surprisingly benched for the Week 14 game in Sicily. As if to prove boss Walter Novellino wrong, the ex-Ascoli man made the game safe in stoppage time after appearing as a substitute. As a result, Francesco Flachi is expected to drop to the bench to make way for the 23-year-old.

Although they are currently on a poor run, Siena would have fancied their chances of picking up a point against Inter last weekend when they were awarded a penalty with the Nerazzurri leading 1-0. Unfortunately, Mario Frick was denied by a stunning Julio Cesar save and it was game over. Nonetheless, Coach Mario Beretta is expected to keep faith with the Liechtenstein man and Tomas Locatelli ahead of the more illustrious strike pairing of Enrico Chiesa and Erjon Bogdani.

Indeed, the former Parma tactician is likely to make just two changes to his line-up. Paul Codrea is suspended so Simone Vergassola, who was banned himself for the Inter clash, returns to the side. Vincent Candela is also tipped to come back into the starting XI, with the suspended Luca Antonini making way on the left flank.

Given that last term’s clash resulted in the spoils being shared after a six-goal thriller, here’s hoping that we get a repeat. A win for Siena could see them climb up into the Champions League spots though, while a Samp victory would see them leapfrog their Week 15 opponents. There really is all to play for in this one.

Man on fire: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria) – The young striker has been in excellent form in front of goal since his summer switch from Ascoli.

Last season: Sampdoria 3-3 Siena

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

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Sampdoria (probable): Berti; Zenoni, Sala, Falcone, Accardi; Franceschini, Del Vecchio, Volpi, Olivera; Quagliarella, Bonazzoli

Siena (probable): Manninger; Negro, Gastaldello, Portanova, Molinaro; Konko, Brevi, Vergassola, Candela; Frick, Locatelli

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/sam-sie.html

[meccano]

I hope Samp wins this i like the team have a good transfer relationship with them plus I think Del Vecchio will be big in the future..

That and i dont like Siena because of that imp in a sheep skin coat Beretta

but if Chiesa was playing then that would be tough...

[D-Kin]

Chiesa hasn't been a regular for Siena this season, mainly because of the form of Frick and Bogdani. I've got a feeling he could move on if he doesn't start playing more games.

I've heard Inter are interested in Del Vecchio, he's a decent player.

[D-Kin]

Siena squad:

Alberto
Bogdani
Brevi
Candela
Chiesa
D’Aversa
Frick
Gastaldello
Konko
Locatelli
Manninger
Masiello
Molinaro
Negro
Pavarini
Portanova
Rinaudo
Rossi
Siedlarz
Vergassola

[D-Kin]

Sampdoria squad:

Portieri. Berti, L. Castellazzi.
Difensori. Accardi, Falcone, Maggio, Pieri, Sala, Zenoni.
Centrocampisti. Bonanni, Da Mota, Delvecchio, Franceschini, Palombo, Olivera, Volpi.
Attaccanti. Bazzani, Bonazzoli, Flachi, Foti, Quagliarella.

[D-Kin]

Sampdoria: Berti, Zenoni, Sala, Falcone, Accardi, Olivera, Delvecchio, Volpi, Franceschini, Flachi, Bazzani
Subs: L, Castellazzi, Pieri, Maggio, Bonanni, Palombo, Quagliarella, Bonazzoli

Siena: Manninger, Negro, Portanova, Molinaro, Rinaudo, Candela, Konko, Vergassola, Locatelli, Chiesa, Bogdani
Subs: Pavarini, Rossi, Brevi, Gastaldello, D'aversa, Frick, Alberto

[D-Kin]

Chiesa goes close.

0-0 after 17 minutes.

[D-Kin]

Bogdani booked for a terrible challenge.

[D-Kin]

HT 0-0.

[D-Kin]

Flachi goes close with a header.

Still 0-0 after an hour.

[D-Kin]

Konko sent off for Siena.

10 minutes to go.

[D-Kin]

FT 0-0.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 17 - 20/12/06 (19.30 UK)
Sampdoria - Livorno

Stadio Ferraris

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It’s a mid-table scrap at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris as Livorno and Sampdoria both look to pick up three valuable points in the race for European football.

Things are looking up for Sampdoria. After last season’s indifferent showing and a slow start to this campaign, the Blucerchiati faithful finally have something to cheer about. Week 16’s 1-0 away win over Reggina saw Walter Novellino’s men move into ninth place and made it three clean sheets in a row for the Genoa outfit. However, as we saw last season, it’s wins in games like these that make the difference between European football and mid-table obscurity.

Livorno’s fraught 1-1 draw with Lazio last weekend ended a poor run for Daniele Arrigoni’s side and washed away the memories of Week 15’s 3-0 thrashing at Palermo. Coach Daniele Arrigoni claimed to be delighted after a week that had also seen the Granata progress in the UEFA Cup. While club President Aldo Spinelli is not overly enamoured with the UEFA Cup, and in fact stressed earlier in the season that he wanted his side to be knocked out in the early stages, qualifying for next year’s tournament must be the limit of the Tuscans’ realistic ambitions. Some extra shooting drills in training may help them get there – Livorno have had the least shots on target of any side in Serie A, their meagre total of 53 is just over three a game.

Novellino’s defensive crisis has eased. While Christian Terlizzi remains injured, Guilio Falcone and Luigi Sala return from suspension. Striker Fabio Bazzani was hit by a coin at the end of the Reggina match but should be available to play. ‘Keeper Gianluca Berti has had surgery on a fractured wrist and midfielder Gennaro Delvecchio who had to fill in between the sticks may also be out due to a recurring muscle complaint. Angelo Palombo will be sidelined for another fortnight.

The visitors have a full squad. Alessandro Grandoni should start after serving a ban alongside fellow ex-Samp defender Davide Balleri. Iranian defender Rahman Rezaei looks likely to keep the struggling Samuel Kuffour out of the side.

Man on fire: Pietro Accardi (Sampdoria) – An unsung hero at the back for Samp in December, the ex-Palermo wing-back has hardly put a foot wrong since breaking into the team.

Last season: Sampdoria 0-2 Livorno

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


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Sampdoria (probable): Castelazzi; C Zenoni, Falcone, Maggio, Acardi; Franceschini, Volpi, Bonanni, Olivera; Quagliarella, Flachi

Livorno (probable): Amelia; Grandoni, Rezaei, Galante; Balleri, Vidigal, Passoni, A Filippini, Pasquale; Bakayoko, C Lucarelli

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/sam-liv.html

[D-Kin]

FT 4-1 to Sampdoria.

Flachi (pen), Quagliarella (x2) and Franceschini with the goals for Sampdoria, Vigiani for Livorno.

[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 17 - 20/12/06 (19.30 UK)
Sampdoria 4 - 1 Livorno
Vigiani 12 (L), Franceschini 24 (S), Flachi pen 30 (S), Quagliarella 47, 57 (S)
Stadio Ferraris

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Fabio Quagliarella's spectacular form continues with a brace that puts Daniele Arrigoni's job on the line.

These two sides are aiming for UEFA Cup positions this season. Giulio Falcone and Luigi Sala returned from their bans, but goalkeeper Gianluca Berti fractured his wrist.

Livorno took the lead with their first real shot on goal, as Luca Vigiani unleashed a right-foot strike from distance that probably caught Luca Castelazzi off guard in the far top corner.

Samp drew level from a set play, as Fabio Quagliarella and Emiliano Bonazzoli both got their heads to the corner kick before Franceschini's volley into the bottom corner.

The turnaround was complete from the spot, Francesco Flachi converting the penalty awarded for a debatable David Balleri challenge on Quagliarella.

Marco Amelia completely mis-timed his run, but Christian Maggio nodded wide of an empty net. Cristiano Lucarelli was very tense and Coach Daniele Arrigoni opted to replace him at half-time to avoid a second booking.

Quagliarella has been Sampdoria's best hitman this term and he made it 3-1 straight after the restart with his eighth goal of the season. A free kick was deflected into he air, where the ex-Ascoli man pounced for a precise volley.

There's no stopping Quagliarella at the moment, as his looping header from a Zenoni cross slotted into the top corner to pile the misery on Livorno.


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Sampdoria: Castelazzi; Maggio, Acardi, Falcone, Zenoni; Quagliarella (Pieri 79), Volpi, Palombo (Da Mota 85), Franceschini; Bonazzoli (Bazzani 68.), Flachi

Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Rezaei; Balleri (Bakayoko 61), Morrone, Passoni, A Filippini, Pfertzel; Vigiani (Vidigal 72); Lucarelli (Danilevicius 46)

Ref: Palanca

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/sam-liv.html