Two teams from different tiers, but equally struggling at this stage of the season, face off in the last 32 of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night as Salernitana host Sampdoria at Stadio Arechi, trying to turn the tide in what has been a disappointing season for both teams so far.
Salernitana go into this match on the back of a 1-0 loss to Genoa in Serie A, while Sampdoria suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sudtirol in Serie B.
Match preview
© Reuters
After finishing 11 points above the relegation zone in Serie A last season, Salernitana are currently at the bottom of the table with just four points and no wins from their first 10 games.
Although Filippo Inzaghi's side did not start the season brilliantly, drawing three of their first five games and losing to Lecce and Torino, the last week of September was the start of a big downfall for the Garnets.
They have lost four of their last five Serie A games, failing to score in all four that ended in defeat, and currently have the second-worst defensive record in the league.
Aside from the league, Salernitana began their journey in the Coppa Italia in the round of 64 against Serie B club Ternana with a narrow 1-0 win, with the only goal of the game coming from Antonio Candreva inside the first 10 minutes.
What could give confidence to the hosts before Tuesday's match is their recent head-to-head record, which sees Salernitana winning twice and drawing once in the last three matches.
© Reuters
Sampdoria, on the other hand, were relegated to Serie B last season after spending more than a decade in Italy's top flight, and as it stands, a return to Serie A is unlikely anytime soon.
Andrea Pirlo's side are currently just one point above the automatic relegation zone to Serie C and have picked up just seven points in 11 games.
A 2-0 win over Cosenza a week ago ended a six-game losing streak that had been going on for almost two months, but Saturday's away defeat to Sudtirol brought Pirlo's men back down to earth, which is very discouraging at the moment.
Sampdoria faced the aforementioned Sudtirol in the first round of the Coppa Italia, only advancing to the next round after winning 7-6 on penalties.
The team's recent record against Salernitana is anything but encouraging, and current form does not suggest much progress, at least for now.
Team News
© Reuters
Salernitana have a virtually fully-fit squad ahead of Tuesday's game, with only Federico Fazio missing due to a muscle injury and not expected to be fit until next month.
Central defender Matteo Lovato, however, had to be substituted in the 64th minute of the match against Genoa as a precaution and is questionable for Tuesday, therefore Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi will replace him in the back three.
Inzaghi expects to rely on the front trio of Candreva, Jovane Cabral and Boulaye Dia to score goals, but like the entire Salernitana team, they have not really performed as required.
Sampdoria, on the other hand, have a much bigger injury plight ahead of Tuesday, with a total of five players currently unavailable.
Defenders Petar Stojanovic and Nicola Murru are the main absentees who would normally be in the starting XI, forcing Inzaghi to rely on Facundo Gonzalez and Daniele Ghilardi at centre-back and Fabio Depaoli at right-back.
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Ikwuemesi, Gyomber, Pirola, Bradaric, Mazzocchi; Maggiore, Coulibaly, Candreva, Cabral; Dia
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Depaoli, Ghilardi, Gonzalez, Giordano; Kasami, Yepes, Vieira, Borini; Esposito, Verre
We say: Salernitana 1-0 Sampdoria
Neither team can be described as particularly attack-minded this season, as both struggle to create scoring chances in the attacking third, therefore a low-scoring game is expected on Tuesday.
Salernitana have a psychological advantage due to recent victories against Sampdoria, but neither team go into this match as clear favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
