Sampdoria vs Juventus preview - Serie A big guns strive for winning formula

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Sampdoria and Juventus are looking to build some winning momentum as they head into a showdown of northern Italian clubs on Sunday.

Both sides have been in poor form this month but did snatch victories in their latest games, with Samp winning on penalties in their midweek Coppa Italia game against Udinese to reach the quarter-finals, and Juventus prevailing last weekend against Bari.

"This qualification should give us added strength for Sunday's game against Juve," said Sampdoria coach Domenico Di Carlo.

"We need to play in the best possible way and hand another good performance to our fantastic fans."

Samp have lost just once at home this season and are 10th in the table.

Juventus, who had lost to Parma and Napoli before beating last-placed Bari last weekend, are sixth.

Luigi Del Neri's men are one point behind fourth-top Inter Milan and fifth-place Roma.

The top four sides at the end of the season will qualify for the Champions League.

Ahead of the game at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero said: "We need to give continuity to results.

"The game at Sampdoria will be no easy match.

"We have to focus on ourselves and not on others and keep working hard."

The Turin giants have not won on the road since December 5.

Juve have a long injury list with Vincenzo Iaquinta, Leandro Rinaudo, Paolo De Ceglie, Jorge Martinez, Fabio Quagliarella and Luca Toni all ruled out of the match.

Additionally, Felipe Melo will not play because he is suspended.

Amauri is again expected to partner Del Piero in Juve's attack.