Sampdoria will be hosting Venezia at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday, with the two teams being separated by just two points and two places in Serie A standings.
Ahead of their second last league fixture of 2021, they both progressed to the Coppa Italia’s last 16 in midweek.
Sampdoria’s recent improvement has gained pace following back-to-back victories during the past week, having recorded three wins from five Serie A games which took them eight points clear of the relagation zone.
They made their tally four victories from their last six in all competitions on Thursday, with Roberto D’Aversa leading his side to a 2-1 win over Torino.
Having taken the victory in the season’s first Derby della Lanterna against Genoa, Sampdoria have recently found some momentum after a slow start under new coach, but their defensive record is still of concern.
While Antonio Candreva has recorded six goals and five assists so far, his back four are underperforming, having allowed a record 33 Serie A goals.
Regardless, they are now going to face opponents with the same failure to hold the back, as their conterparts also concede at a rate of nearly two per game.
Venezia hosted Juventus at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo where they earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw, with that point helping them recover equilibrium, after giving in their 3-0 lead in the Veneto debry with Verona, where they lost 4-3.
Venezia will face Atalanta in the next round, but should be keen to close the year in a special way, having been promoted back to the league after nearly two decades away. After visiting Sampdoria, they will be hosting Lazio next week.
After ending a run of four games without a win, they will then hope to take their first three-point haul since defeating Bologna a month ago.
Sampdoria vs Venezia head to head
The two Italian clubs have previously had 6 encounters, two in Serie A and four in Serie B, and this is the first time they are meeting in Serie A since June 2003. In the 6 encounters, Sampdoria have won in three, Venezia in one and they have drawn in two.
Sampdoria 2-1 Venezia 11/04/99
Venezia 2-2 Sampdoria 18/12/00
Sampdoria 4-1 Venezia 20/05/01
Sampdoria 4-0 Venezia 17/01/03
Venezia 3-1 Sampdoria 07/06/03
Sampdoria latest home form
Sampdoria have been inconsistent with their performance at home, having won just four matches in their last ten fixtures in all competitions, and they lost their last match at home in the domestic league. In their last five, they have won two and lost three in the process.
Sampdoria 1-3 Atalanta 27/10/21
Sampdoria 1-2 Bologna 07/11/21
Sampdoria 3-1 Verona 27/11/21
Sampdoria 1-3 Lazio 05/12/21
Sampdoria 2-1 Torino 16/12/21
Sampdoria latest away form
Sampdoria won their last away game in the league on December 10, where they defeated Genoa 3-1. They however not kept a steady form with their inconsistency, being without successive wins. They won two and lost three of their last five matches, scoring 7 goals and conceding 10.
Cagliari 3-1 Sampdoria 17/10/21
Torino 3-0 Sampdoria 30/10/21
Salernitana 0-2 Sampdoria 21/11/21
Fiorentina 3-1 Sampdoria 30/11/21
Genoa 1-3 Sampdoria 10/12/21
Venezia latest home form
Venezia have been on a low form at home, going without any victory in their last three games in the league. Their last victory in the league came on November 7 where they defeated Roma 3-2. However, they won their last match at home against Ternana in the Coppa Italia.
Venezia 3-2 Roma 07/11/21
Venezia 0-2 Inter Milan 27/11/21
Venezia 3-4 Verona 05/12/21
Venezia 1-1 Juventus 11/12/21
Venezia 3-1 Ternana 14/12/21
Venezia latest away form
Ligunari have been on a relatively low form on the road, as they have recorded just two victories in their last ten matches in all competitions, and they lost their last away game to Atalanta. In their last five, they have won one, drawn one and lost three in the process.
Sassuolo 3-1 Venezia 23/10/21
Genoa 0-0 Venezia 31/10/21
Tabor Sezana 2-1 Venezia 13/11/21
Bologna 0-1 Venezia 21/11/21
Atalanta 4-0 Venezia 30/11/21
Sampdoria news
Sampdoria could revert to a more familiar first XI, with Francesco Caputo, Manolo Gabbiadini and goalkeeper Emil Audero expected to be restored to the team.
Ronaldo Vieira, Mikkel Damsgaard and Ernesto Torregrossa will still remain sidelined for the hosts , with striker Fabio Quagliarella likely to drop to the bench in this game.
Venezia news
Pietro Ceccaroni would be available for Venezia this Sunday, and is likely to start alongside Mattia Caldara.
Striker David Okereke could again be absent through injury, with Thomas Henry and Dennis Johnsen likely to start up front, as Antonio Vacca is a doubt in the midfield due to a knee problem.
Prediction and Odds
Despite their poor defensive structure, Sampdoria seem to be on the improving end of their 2021-22 campaign, and they are likely to pick a positive from this match.
Venezia are heading into the game with a poor away form, which could see them fall short in this match, and we back the hosts to take the victory.
Odds: 1 1.78 X 2.67 2 2.95
Probable outcomes
Sampdoria 2-0 Venezia
Sampdoria 2-1 Venezia
Sampdoria 3-1 Venezia
Sampdoria 3-2 Venezia
Sampdoria 4-2 Venezia
