Salernitana vs Sampdoria prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-08-27 16:30.
Salernitana failed to make the extra man count, as a tame goalless draw against Udinese kept them waiting for their first win and goal of this Serie A (SA) campaign (L1). As thoughts go back to last season where they spent 20 consecutive matchdays at the bottom of the table, home fans will hope to avoid another campaign where they relied on manager Davide Nicola to weave late magic.
As Nicola grapples with injuries in his squad, a repeat of their defensive solidity and subsequent clean sheet from last weekend can boost morale as they aim for consecutive SA shutouts for the first time since May 1999. That may need the hosts to pull a rabbit out of the hat though, as Salernitana haven't kept a clean sheet at home for 16 consecutive SA home matches (W2, D5, L9).
A goal-shy Sampdoria may offer an opportunity, since they have failed to score in three consecutive SA games – their joint-worst record since February 2011. If that’s not enough to provide them motivation, then the prospect of failing to score in the first three top-flight games of a season for the first time ever should see Sampdoria spring into action.
In a contest where visiting boss Marco Giampaolo faces the team for whom his brother Federico Giampaolo used to play, focus will be on steering clear of a relegation battle, unlike last season, where picking up a joint-third league lowest 15 SA away points nearly sent them down. Sampdoria will target a positive start to their travels to avoid such road bumps but they haven’t won their first away game of a SA campaign over the last four seasons (D1, L3) also failing to score in three.
Key battle: Salernitana's keeper Luigi Sepe has a personal record in sight as he targets consecutive clean sheets for the first time since April 2019. Looking to play spoilsport is Sampdoria's Fabio Quagliarella who's looking to make Salernitana the 37th different SA team he has scored against!
Hot stat: Sampdoria picked up only one point last season after conceding first in away SA matches (D1, L11).