Sampdoria play host to Torino on Wednesday evening knowing that they will realistically require all three points to stay in the hunt for survival in Serie A.
At a time when the home side are 10 points adrift of safety, the visitors are locked in the mid-table positions in the standings after an inconsistent run.
Match preview
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There have been times in recent weeks when Sampdoria have either shown character or looked on course to register a much-needed victory.
However, Dejan Stankovic witnessed his side succumb to a 5-0 defeat to Fiorentina at the weekend, Sampdoria capitulating from the hour mark onwards.
As a result, I Blucerchiati face a near-impossible task, a team that has accumulated just 17 points from 32 games requiring a bare minimum of 10 points from six fixtures.
With trips to AC Milan and Napoli still to come, there is already an acceptance that relegation is close to an inevitably, yet that will not stop Sampdoria from throwing everything at their bid to remain in the top flight.
While Sampdoria have recorded just one success at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in 2022-23, it came against relegation rivals Hellas Verona as recently as March 19.
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From Torino's perspective, they are playing merely for pride with survival realistically secured but the club not in the hunt for European qualification.
Ivan Juric's side did win two matches in succession during the early part of March, but they have been bedevilled by inconsistency since that brief maximum haul.
On a positive note, a 1-0 win away at second-placed Lazio is still fresh in the memory, although they lost out to Atalanta BC courtesy of an 88th-minute winner last time out.
Torino have recently been solid away from home, however, with seven points coming on their travels versus Lecce, Sassuolo and the aforementioned Lazio.
Team News
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Stankovic is expected to ring the changes to his Sampdoria XI with Filip Djuricic or Michael Cuisance expected to replace the injured Mehdi Leris in a creative role.
Jeison Murillo may also come into the backline, despite the goals that were conceded after his introduction versus Fiorentina, while Abdelhamid Sabiri could also be introduced in the final third.
While fewer alterations are expected to the Torino starting lineup, Juric may take the opportunity to freshen up his side.
Nikola Vlasic could be restored in a position in the final third, with Samuele Ricci in line to be added to the midfield.
Wilfried Singo may also be recalled at right wing-back in place of Valentino Lazaro.
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Ravaglia; Gunter, Murillo, Amione; Zanoli, Winks, Rincon, Augello; Cuisance; Gabbiadini, Sabiri
Torino possible starting lineup:
Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji, Schuurs, Buongiorno; Lazaro, Ricci, Ilic, Rodriguez; Miranchuk, Vlasic; Sanabria
We say: Sampdoria 1-2 Torino
Sampdoria have little option but to throw everything at collecting three points from this match. However, that will only give more opportunities to Torino, who we feel will further extend their unbeaten away run with a late victory.
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