Inter vs. Sampdoria, match preview

MILAN - Following an important away win in the Europa League against Ludogorets, Inter return to league action on matchday 25 of Serie A TIM. The Nerazzurri host a Sampdoria side coached by Claudio Ranieri and fresh off the back of a heavy defeat to Fiorentina, with kick-off for the game set for 20:45 CET on Sunday at San Siro.

INTER VS. SAMPDORIA, STATS AND PREVIOUS RESULTS

THE NERAZZURRI WITH THE BETTER RECORDSunday’s fixture will be the 126th time that Inter and Sampdoria have met each other in Serie A. The Nerazzurri’s record against the Blucerchiati in the league reads as follows: 68 wins, 37 draws, 20 defeats. The Nerazzurri have won all of their last five encounters with the Blucerchiati in Serie A. Inter have also lost just one of their last 17 matches in Serie A against Sampdoria at San Siro (1-2 in April 2017), winning eleven and drawing five of those fixtures.

EARLY GOALS AND HEADERS Inter’s league campaign thus far has been characterised by two frequent occurrences: early goals and headers. Inter have netted the most headed goals this Serie A season (eleven), while Sampdoria have conceded eight in this manner, the most in the league. This match will pit the team that has scored the most goals in the first 15 minutes (five for Inter, level with Atalanta and Lazio) against the side that has conceded the most during the same time period (Sampdoria, seven goals).

OLD FLAMES OF EITHER SIDE: SKRINIAR, RANOCCHIA, PADELLI, BERNI Four Nerazzurri players have previously played for Sampdoria. Inter defender Milan Skriniar made his Serie A debut while at Sampdoria, for whom he played 38 times in Italy’s top tier between 2016 and 2017. Andrea Ranocchia made 14 appearances for Sampdoria during the second half of the 2015/16 campaign, while goalkeepers Padelli and Berni were also once on the Blucerchiati’s books. Although the former never played for the Ligurian side in the Italian top flight, the latter turned out for Sampdoria on three occasions in 2012/13.

(Click here for all of the stats on Inter vs. Sampdoria)

CURRENT FORM

Inter go into the sixth gameweek of the return set of fixtures in third place on 54 points. Sampdoria sit in 17th, having won 23 points so far.

Inter’s last five results: Ludogorets 0-2 Inter (Europa League) Lazio 2-1 Inter Inter 0-1 Napoli (Coppa Italia) Inter 4-2 Milan Udinese 0-2 Inter

Sampdoria’s last five results: Sampdoria 1-5 Fiorentina Torino 1-3 Sampdoria Sampdoria 2-4 Napoli Sampdoria 0-0 Sassuolo Lazio 5-1 Sampdoria

THE COACHES’ WORDS

Conte: “Despite Sampdoria losing their last game by a wide margin, Sunday will be a difficult match. They have a very experienced coach in Claudio Ranieri, and they’re a lively and healthy team. They’ve got quality players in their squad, experienced players like Quagliarella, who surprise year in year out with their performances and depth. We have to try and get the three points, that’s for sure.”

(Read back on Antonio Conte’s pre-match press conference)

Ranieri: “Inter are a strong side, they’ve got quality and physical strength. We haven’t lost already, that’s for sure, and we won’t give up right until the end. How to stop Lukaku and Lautaro? We’ll have to be good at intercepting their passes, trying to cut off the supply lines from the midfield.”

INTER VS. SAMPDORIA, SUSPENSIONS AND THOSE ON A TIGHTROPE

Inter don’t have any players suspended for Sunday’s game, but Danilo D’Ambrosio finds himself just one booking away from a suspension. Claudio Ranieri will be without Murru and Ramirez, while Colley and Ferrari are both one more caution from suspension.

MATCH OFFICIALS FOR INTER VS. SAMPDORIA

The game at San Siro will be refereed by Maurizio Mariani. Assistants: Mondin, Galetto. Fourth Official: Piccinini. VAR and VAR Assistant: Aureliano, Passeri.