Serie A Matchday 20 Preview: Atalanta vs. Sampdoria – My Interview with Stephen Kasiewicz

Date: January 28, 2022
Time: 20:45 CET | 14:45 EST

A Quick Tale of the Tape

Atalanta: 6th | 35 points | +14 GD | +10.2 xGD | Top Scorer: Ademola Lookman (11 goals)
Sampdoria: 19th | 9 points | -24 GD | -13.2 xGD | Top Scorers: Manolo Gabbiadini & Filip Duricic (2 goals)

Atalanta gets to begin the second half of the season just like it began the first half, with a match against Sampdoria. While the opponents may be the same, each squad’s respective expectations are now vastly different after a long first 19 games in the campaign. We all know Atalanta’s ambitions, but Sampdoria have suddenly and maybe a little shockingly found themselves in a relegation scrap, having yet to even hit double digit points and goals!

I am fortunate to have Stephen Kasiewicz join me this week, as he can do a much better job of highlighting Sampdoria’s season to date. I hope you enjoy reading his thoughts as much as I did curating them, and I urge you to also check out his other writing at the Gentleman Ultra, FootballItalia.net, as well as other football focused websites. Enjoy!

Atalanta Passione: Saying it has been a difficult year for Sampdoria would be putting it lightly.  Currently sitting in 19th in the division, how has Sampdoria gotten to this point, and is the season still salvageable?

Stephen Kasiewicz: It would be a minor miracle if Sampdoria retain their place in Serie A. In the completely unpredictable and controversial world of Italian football anything is possible. Although at the halfway stage of the campaign the prospects of a dramatic turnaround look bleak. Survival is the only ambition in a season blighted by incessant injuries, constant misfortune and a litany of avoidable errors in all areas of the team. The Blucerchiati benefited as other clubs at the foot of the standings floundered last term and entered this season with a largely unchanged squad. It’s unsurprising that the same group of players which repeatedly failed to perform in the previous year sank to second bottom of the classifica last October. Porous in defense, nonexistent in midfield and blunt in attack, winless coach Marco Giampaolo was eventually fired after a dismal three goal home defeat at Monza. Dejan Stanković was appointed and improved things slightly, leading Doria to two victories – but not away from the relegation places.

It’s been a disastrous season overshadowed by disgraced former club President Massimo Ferrero and his bizarre refusal to sell the club. Earlier this month Ferrero and his family rejected a takeover proposal from investment firm Merlyn with the club heavily in debt, owing €10 million in unpaid taxes and behind on player salaries. The possible repercussions could plunge Samp into further misery if the situation degenerates. Amid the ongoing chaos Samp have understandably struggled to attract and bring in any new recruits in the January transfer window. Financial constraints have restricted Doria to loans and cut price deals. Dutch defender Bram Nuytinck has at least offered a modicum of stability since arriving from Udinese at the start of the month. A long transfer saga involving Red Star Belgrade stopper Aleksandar Dragović seems close to being resolved. Stanković believes the Austria international can shore up a desperately inept backline. Without the brilliance of goalkeeper Emil Audero, Samp would be marooned at the foot of the table. Patching up a leaky defense remains the priority for the club to have any hope of preventing a drop down to Serie B.

AP: Sampdoria has only managed to score 8 goals this year, and also sits last in the league in expected goals. What has been the issue for Sampdoria going forward, especially with decent attackers like Filip Duricic and Abdelhamid Sabiri leading the attack?

SK: Statistics can be used to justify all manner of nonsensical theories but the single digit goal tally is self explanatory. There is an irony in the expected goals metric as anyone who has followed Sampdoria in the last two seasons knows not to expect much, if anything at all. The absence of a genuine goalscorer, the lack of an unpredictable creative spark and a disconnection between midfield and attack have led to the rather embarrassing figure in the goals for column. The Blucerchiati have frequently resembled a discombobulated unit incapable of even the fundamentals of the game. Things are slowly changing under Stanković although much of the damage was done early in the campaign. Former Italy cap Francesco Caputo left for Empoli this month after netting only two  league goals but often looked exasperated and isolated alongside the sporadically effective Manolo Gabbiadini.

Club legend Fabio Quagliarella has been hampered by injury as he nears the conclusion of a fantastic career. The 39-year-old has yet to score in limited minutes this season. Sabiri scored a wondergoal as Doria lost at Spezia earlier in the campaign but has often been an anonymous figure amid rumours of a fall out with Stanković. Đuričić squandered a great opportunity in the first half as Samp lost out to a late Udinese goal. Although the Serbian has struck twice since rejoining Doria the inexcusable miss summed up his largely ineffective displays at the club.

AP: Sam Lammers just began a loan spell in Genoa after his loan with Empoli got cut off early. How has the Dutchman looked in his minutes with Sampdoria?Can he be the missing link to a struggling offense?

SK: Now in his third loan spell away from Atalanta it’s clear Lammers needs a permanent home. Whether it will be with Sampdoria or not could be decided between now and the remainder of this term. The Dutchman won’t need any extra motivation to impress his parent club. The 25-year-old has only intermittently shone in a partnership with Gabbiadini. An elusive goal would transform a player who has a tendency to over complicate things at crucial moments. Lammers is clearly technically accomplished and capable of excellent link up play, but has yet to make any kind of significant breakthrough with Doria.

AP: When Atalanta and Sampdoria lined up to kick this season off, a 2-0 result in favor of Atalanta didn’t do the game justice. It was close, and Sampdoria had ample opportunities to claw a goal back before Ademola Lookman iced the match in extra time. What will Sampdoria’s strategy be to ensure a tight contest just like the match in August?

SK: The opening game of the season was an indication of what was to come for Sampdoria; a controversially disallowed goal, numerous wasted chances and atrocious defending. If Doria defend deeply they delay the inevitable, but if they open up Atalanta will ruthlessly exploit the spaces left behind. It’s a dilemma for Stanković who has to decide whether to stick with a relatively new formation or adopt a more defensive approach. Harry Winks made a noticeable difference as a midfield anchor in the loss to Udinese after finally overcoming injury to start his first game for Samp. The former England cap impressed with his spacial awareness and passing ability. He will be the key player if Samp are to emerge with anything from the Gewiss Stadium.

Nick and Stephen’s predicted starting XIs

AP: What would you expect Sampdoria’s starting XI to be? Any major changes Atalantini should be aware of since the beginning of the season?

SK: Stanković adopted a 3-4-1-2 formation in the defeats against Empoli and Udinese and will need to change personnel as Samp have been affected by injuries for the trip to Bergamo.Central defender Omar Colley limped off with a knee injury last weekend, while attacking midfielder Sabiri (thigh) and striker Gabbiadini (back) are also injury concerns. Either Quagliarella or Daniele Montevago should partner Lammers in attack.

AP: And finally, a score prediction?

SK: It would be a colossal upset if Sampdoria somehow managed to claim just a third victory of the campaign. Both of their wins came away from home at Cremonese and Sassuolo. Another road success seems unlikely. Given Atalanta’s excellent recent form La Dea should win comfortably, although I am loath to make an exact score prediction.

Thank you again to Stephen for his excellent insight – and make sure to go follow him on Twitter for all his insights into Sampdoria and the rest of the happenings going on in Serie A. As for what Atalanta needs to do, well – there’s not a whole lot of color left for me to add. 18 goals in Atalanta’s last four matches means that the offense needs to keep hitting, and with Teun Koopmeiners back from suspension the squad should be ready to rock and roll. Let’s hope its enough for a few goal and most importantly three points! As always, Forza Dea!

Nick