Sampdoria vs Empoli Prediction and Preview – 29/10/15

Serie A preview – Sampdoria vs Empoli prediction

Sampdoria manager Walter Zenga is without three players due to injury and they are Nenad Krsticic, Andrea Coda and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos. There are also doubts over Djamel Mesbah but the defender may be fit enough to be involved. Zenga is unlikely to make many unforced changes from the team which won at the weekend.

Empoli have to make do without Levan Mchedlidze and Daniele Croce, who are both injured. However, Riccardo Saponara is back from suspension and should take his place as the attacking point of Empoli’s midfield, which is good news for manager Marco Giampaolo, as Saponara is Empoli’s top scorer this season.

Possible Line-ups

Sampdoria: 4-3-1-2 formation: Viviano; Cassani, Moisander, Zukanovic, Regini; Fernando, Carbonero, Barreto; Soriano; Muriel, Eder

Empoli: 4-3-1-2 formation: Skorupski; Laurini, Tonelli, Barba, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Diousse, Paredes; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone

Statistics

• Sampdoria have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
• Empoli have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 6 of their last 10 matches
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Sampdoria have scored an average of 1.6 goals and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Empoli have scored an average of 1 goal and conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Sampdoria’s previous 10 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Empoli’s previous 10 matches

Prediction

Sampdoria picked up a much needed win at the weekend as they defeated Hellas Verona 4-1 at home. Prior to that result, Sampdoria had not won a game in three and suffered defeat at Frosinone and Atalanta. It’s Sampdoria’s home form which is keeping them in the top half of the Serie A table, with all but 1 of their 14 points coming at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris. With two home games back-to-back, Zenga will see this as the perfect opportunity to pick up 6 points.

Empoli travel to play Sampdoria on the back of a great result against their opponents local rivals, Genoa. The 2-0 win was Empoli’s third victory of the season and second in three games. However, away form is the real concern for Giampaolo, as his team have lost three of their four away matches in Serie A, conceding 8 goals in the process.

If Empoli can come away from this game with a point, they will be pleased but Sampdoria’s form at home is excellent and the points should be staying in Genoa.

Tips

Sampdoria win at 13/10 – Click here to bet with Bet365

Sampdoria win and BTTS at 15/4 – Click here to bet with Bet365

Sampdoria win 3-1 at 18/1 – Click here to bet with Bet365

What are your predictions?

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