Italian Serie A
2008-04-20 - Sampdoria vs Udinese
A Sports Betting Pick by Mario
Italy Serie A
Sunday 20th April 2008 - KO 14:00 GMT
Sampa & Udinese Scrap for UEFA Qualification
Inter Milan maintained their four-point lead at the top of Serie A on the weekend, which with just five games remaining, keeps them in pole position for the Scudetto.
However, it is the the race for the European qualification, which is instead gripping Italian bettors which could still see AC Milan, giants of continental soccer, fail to qualify - even for the UEFA Cup.
When the sides currently in sixth and seventh in Italy’s Serie A – Sampdoria and Udinese - meet on Sunday, it will be a straight battle for UEFA Cup qualification.
The clubs finishing fifth and sixth will automatically qualify, but the situation will be confused further if either Roma or Inter Milan win the Italian Cup (which also affords entry to the UEFA Cup) as they will instead play in the Champions League, extending qualification down to seventh.
Neither club will want to rely on that scenario, so a win in this critical clash at Sampdoria’s Stadio Luigo Ferraris is essential for the European ambitions of both clubs.
Both teams had seven game unbeaten runs end abruptly on the weekend. Udinese lost at home to Roma on Sunday, while the Blucerchiati had their purple patch ended, losing 1-0 at lowly Reggina.
The visitors have the difficult challenge of becoming only the second team to beat Sampdoria at home this season. The proximity of the sides in the table, and the context of European qualification, will make this a tight affair.
However, Sampdoria haven’t won in their last eight meetings, five of which ended in stalemate.
TEAM NEWS - PROBABLE LINEUPS
Sampdoria will have several changes as Daniele Gastaldello and Paolo Sammarco are suspended, while Hugo Campagnaro and goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi are both injured.
Sampdoria : Mirante; Lucchini, Sala, Accardi, Maggio, Palombo, Volpi, Franceschini, Pieri; Cassano, Bellucci
There should be very few changes to Udinese with Giandomenico Mesto back from suspension so Andrea Coda may go on to the bench.
Udinese : Handanovic; Zapata, Zapotocny, Lukovic; Mesto, D’Agostino, Inler, Dossena; Pepe, Quagliarella, Di Natale
The Verdict
This will be a tight game - but the home advantage may be enough for Sampdoria to force a vital win.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sampdoria 2-1 Udinese
