Sampdoria will be bidding to win just their second Serie A match of the 2022-23 campaign when they make the trip to Sassuolo on Wednesday.
A disappointing start to the season has left Sampdoria in 19th position in the table, boasting just six points from 15 matches, while Sassuolo occupy 15th spot, collecting 16 points from their first 15 games.
Match preview
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Sassuolo have been a Serie A outfit since 2013, and they actually managed to claim back-to-back eighth-place finishes in 2019-20 and 2020-21 before claiming 11th last term.
I Neroverdi have struggled for consistency this term, winning four, drawing four and losing seven of their 15 matches to collect 16 points, which has left them in 15th position in the table.
Sassuolo are nine points clear of the relegation zone, though, and they will not be expecting to be pulled into any sort of trouble over the next few months.
Alessio Dionisi's side were in poor form before the campaign was halted for the 2022 World Cup, though, picking up just one point from four games, which included a 4-0 loss to Napoli and 3-0 defeat at Bologna.
The Black and Greens have been relatively strong in front of their own supporters this season, picking up 11 points from seven matches, and they will be welcoming a Sampdoria outfit that have struggled on their travels, collecting just four points from seven away fixtures.
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Sampdoria have not played outside of Serie A since the 2011-12 campaign, and they have claimed top-half finishes in two of their last four seasons, but it has been a real struggle this term.
Indeed, La Samp have only picked up six points from their first 15 matches courtesy of a record of one win, three draws and 11 defeats, which has left them seven points behind 17th-placed Spezia.
It is not quite time to hit the panic button, but they are comfortably the lowest goalscorers in Serie A this season with six, which is a real concern entering a key period of the campaign.
Dejan Stankovic has been in charge of Sampdoria since the start of October, boasting a record of one win, two draws and six defeats from his nine matches at the helm.
I Blucerchiati have lost each of their last four league games without scoring, including a 2-0 reverse to Lecce in their last game before the campaign was halted for the World Cup.
Team News
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Sassuolo will again be without the services of Maxime Lopez due to a muscular problem, while Mert Muldur is a major doubt due to an ankle issue.
Head coach Dionisi is likely to make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Bologna on November 12.
Matheus Henrique and Agustin Alvarez are both expected to come into the starting side, but Andrea Pinamonti, who has three league goals this season, should again lead the line.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, will again be missing Fabio Quagliarella, Ignacio Pussetto, Harry Winks and Manuel De Luca for Wednesday's affair through injury.
Filip Duricic is the team's leading goalscorer in Serie A this season with two, and the 30-year-old is again expected to feature in the final third of the field alongside Manolo Gabbiadini and Daniele Montevago.
Despite the disappointment of the home loss to Lecce last time out, it would not be a shock to see the same XI for this match, with Gonzalo Villar again featuring in central midfield.
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Ayhan, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Obiang, Henrique; Alvarez, Pinamonti, Lauriente
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Murillo, Ferrari, Amione; Bereszynski, Rincon, Villar, Leris; Montevago, Duricic, Gabbiadini
We say: Sassuolo 1-0 Sampdoria
Both of these sides will have earmarked this match as the chance to put three points on the board, and we are expecting it to be a close match on Wednesday. Sampdoria are very difficult to back at the moment, though, so we are predicting a narrow success for Sassuolo.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
