Lazio can strengthen their grip on a qualification spot for next season's Champions League with an away win at Sampdoria on Saturday night.

The Rome side sit three points clear of Napoli in fourth, but they have a tricky final two games of the season. Sampdoria are also chasing European football, so are equally desperate for the three points at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Sampdoria

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Sampdoria's season is in danger of collapsing as a torrid run of form has threatened to end their European hopes.

They currently sit sixth in Serie A, and are just one point behind Fiorentina in the all-important fifth spot which would see them qualify for next year's Europa League.

Last week they claimed their first win in seven games with a 4-1 thrashing of Udinese, and will hope that they can rediscover their form from March when they won four games in a row.

A 2-0 loss to Fiorentina sparked a collapse in form, and they have also lost to Napoli and Juventus in recent weeks.

After Lazio they face 13th-placed Empoli before a last-day clash with relegated Parma, so they will be confident that they can regain a European spot.

However, Fiorentina aren't their only rivals as Genoa sit one point behind them in seventh, and an in-form Inter Milan are just a point further back.

Scoring goals will be crucial in the run-in, but Sampdoria have scored the fewest of their rivals and will be without their top scorer, Eder, for the rest of the campaign.

Recent form: DDLDLW

Lazio

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Lazio still have high hopes of finishing second this season, but securing a return to the Champions League is their priority.

A 2-0 loss to Juventus last month has triggered a blip in form, and they have won one game since that match.

Last time out they lost 2-1 to Inter Milan, and had two men sent off in their first home defeat since they lost to Genoa in early February.

This patchy run of form has allowed Napoli to close the gap in the race for the Champions League, and they are just three points behind with three games to play.

However, Lazio have their destiny in their own hands as they host neighbours Roma after they play Sampdoria, and finish the season away to Napoli.

Two straight wins would all but guarantee Champions League qualification and put pressure on their city rivals on the final day of the season

Recent form: WLDWDL

Team News

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Luis Muriel and Samuel Eto'o are likely to lead the line for Sampdoria following their successful partnership against Udinese.

Top scorer Eder will not feature again this season and is already a doubt for the beginning of next year due to a serious knee injury, meaning that Eto'o and Muriel are likely to start until the end of the campaign.

Lazio will be forced into at least two changes as both defender Mauricio and goalkeeper Federico Marchetti are suspended, after they picked up red cards last week.

Etrit Berisha is likely to replace Marchetti in goal, while Stefan de Vrij could return from injury to line up in the centre of defence.

Lucas Biglia may not play again this season due to a knee injury, which could open the door for Senad Lulic.

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Viviano, Wszolek, Silvestre, Muñoz, Regini, Acquah, Palombo, Duncan, Soriano, Muriel, Eto'o.

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Berisha, Basta, De Vrij, Ciani, Radu, Lulic, Parolo, Candreva, Mauri, Felipe Anderson, Klose.

Head To Head

Lazio will be confident heading into Saturday's game, due to their outstanding recent record against the hosts.

The Biancazzurri haven't lost to their opponents in seven games, and have won five of the last six.

Earlier this season, they swept them aside with a comfortable 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Marco Parolo, Felipe Anderson and Filip Djordjevic, and they lead the overall head-to-head record with 19 wins from 35 games.

We say: Sampdoria 1-1 Lazio

Sampdoria's confidence will be boosted following last week's thumping win, and they should be a tougher side to beat than they have been in recent weeks.

Lazio will be hurt by their loss of key players, such as Marchetti, but should have enough strength in depth to earn a valuable point.

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