MX23RW : Friday, July 24 18:38:37| >> :120:28921:28921:
Jul 26, 2020 at 8.45pm UK at Allianz Stadium
JuventusJuventus
vs.
SampdoriaSampdoria

Preview: Juventus vs. Sampdoria - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Juventus and Sampdoria, including team news and predicted lineups.

Juventus will welcome Sampdoria to Turin on Sunday night knowing that a victory would see them win the Serie A title for a ninth year in a row.

The Old Lady passed up the chance to secure the trophy on Thursday as they lost at Udinese, but Maurizio Sarri's side will be confident of getting the job done on home soil this weekend.


Match preview

Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt celebrates scoring against Udinese in Serie A on July 23, 2020© Reuters

Juve were well on course to secure the title with three games left when they took a first-half lead against Udinese on Thursday night courtesy of goal from Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt.

The home side turned the game around in the second period, though, ultimately securing all three points courtesy of a 92nd-minute winner, meaning that the title race is still, mathematically at least, alive.

Second-placed Atalanta BC will have the chance to cut the gap to three points when they face AC Milan on Friday night, but Juve have a superior head-to-head record, meaning that a victory in this game would leave them at least six points clear of Atalanta with two games left.

Inter Milan and Lazio are also not out of the argument at this stage, and both teams will be looking to overcome Genoa and Hellas Verona respectively before Juve take to the field on Sunday night.

There is no question that the Old Lady have had their problems this season, but they are closing in on another Scudetto, cementing themselves once again as the powerhouse in Italian football.

Sampdoria manager Claudio Ranieri pictured in December 2019© Reuters

Sampdoria, meanwhile, will enter the match in impressive form, having won five of their last seven league matches to ease any relegation fears that they might have had last month.

Three straight losses in their three games immediately after the lockdown period had put them in trouble, but Claudio Ranieri's side have been in excellent form since the start of July.

A total of 41 points from 35 matches has left them in 14th position in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone and actually only two points off the top half of the division.

La Samp have lost 10 of their 17 away league games this season, though, and are heading for a Juve side that have the best home record in Serie A with 15 wins and two draws from 17 matches.

Juventus Serie A form: WLDDWL

Sampdoria Serie A form: WLWWWL


Team News

Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci pictured in December 2019© Reuters

Juve were without experienced defender Leonardo Bonucci against Udinese through suspension, but the Italian is available for this match and should slot back in alongside De Ligt.

There could also be a change at right-back with Juan Cuadrado potentially replacing Danilo, while Blaise Matuidi is in line to replace Aaron Ramsey in the middle of the park.

Giorgio Chiellini, Mattia De Sciglio and Sami Khedira are all still definitely on the sidelines for the Old Lady, while Gonzalo Higuain will face a late fitness test on a leg injury.

As for Sampdoria, Omar Colley and Ronaldo Vieira are both suspended due to the yellow cards that the pair picked up in the 2-1 home defeat to Genoa on Wednesday night.

Albin Ekdal and Felice D'Amico both injured, meanwhile, with the former picking up an ankle injury last time out which is likely to rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Fabio Quagliarella started on the bench against Genoa but is expected to return to the XI here, while Ekdal's absence could see Fabio Depaoli handed a spot in the middle of the park.

Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Cuadrado, Bonucci, De Ligt, Sandro; Matuidi, Bentancur, Rabiot; Bernardeschi, Dybala, Ronaldo

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Chabot, Augello; Jankto, Depaoli, Thorsby, Linetty; Gabbiadini, Quagliarella


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Juventus 2-0 Sampdoria

Juve will be determined to return to winning ways following the disappointment of the Udinese result, and we are finding it incredibly difficult to back against the home side here. We fancy Sarri's side to pick up the three points that they need to secure a ninth straight Serie A title.


ID:407736:

Who will win Sunday's Serie A clash between Juventus and Sampdoria?

Juventus
Draw
Sampdoria
Juventus
81.3%
Draw
12.5%
Sampdoria
6.3%
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Juventus35255573383580
2Atalanta BCAtalanta35228595445174
3Inter Milan352110474363873
4Lazio35226771383372
5Roma351871069472261
6AC Milan351781055441159
7Napoli35168115647956
8SassuoloSassuolo35139136460448
9Hellas VeronaHellas Verona351113114343046
10Fiorentina351013124345-243
11Bologna351110144858-1043
12Parma35127164951-243
13CagliariCagliari351012135052-242
14Sampdoria35125184658-1241
15Udinese35109163449-1539
16Torino35115194263-2138
17Genoa3599174465-2136
18Lecce3588194577-3232
RBrescia3566233374-4124
RSPALSPAL3554262570-4519

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