Palermo vs Sampdoria preview - Palermo prepare for Serie A return

Posted Saturday, August 30, 2014 by PA

Palermo are looking to make amends for their recent humiliating exit from the Coppa Italia by beating Sampdoria on Sunday in their first game back in Serie A.

The Serie B champions crashed out of the Coppa following a 3-0 home defeat to second-tier Modena last weekend.

Palermo coach Giuseppe Iacchini voiced his disappointment at the result,but believes this will give his side the chance to focus all their energy on the league campaign instead.

"It was a bad performance against Modena and we didn't expect it," he said. "Our focus right now is to be ready for our Serie A opener.

"It's going to be a long campaign and we want to have a good start."

Iacchini expects a challenging game at La Favorita against his former club.

The 50-year-old led Samp to promotion to Italy's top flight in the 2011-12 campaign.

"I would have preferred to have faced Samp later on in the season for many reasons," he said.

"They are a strong team and have done a good job in the transfer market."

Sampdoria will be looking to improve on their 12th-place finish last season under new president Massimo Ferrero.

The Italian film producer purchased the club from Edoardo Garrone this summer.

Samp coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has demanded an improved performance from his players despite overseeing a 4-1 triumph against Como in the Coppa Italia earlier this week.

"The only thing worth saving from that game was the result," he said.

"If we play like this in the league, we will not be going anywhere."

Mihajlovic will not have Argentinian striker Gonzalo Bergessio and Italian winger Marco Marchionni available for selection.

Both players moved to Samp this summer but are sidelined with muscular injuries.b