Cittadella vs Sampdoria | Match Preview
On January 27, 2024 by Jake IovineMatch: Cittadella vs Sampdoria – Serie BKT Matchday 22
Date: January 28, 2024 – 16:15 local (10:15am EST)
Venue: Stadio Piercesare Tombolato – Cittadella
Cittadella hosts Sampdoria on Sunday at the Stadio Piercesare Tombolato in the last match of Round 22 of Serie B.
The Granata are coming off their first loss in nine games after being defeated against Ternana last weekend. Sampdoria has not seen victory in the last four games, losing 0-3 to Parma last Friday.
Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini is not taking Sampdoria lightly despite their recent struggles.
“Sampdoria is a squad of quality,” Gorini said in his pre-match press conference. “We all know the problems they have had, but they still have players of great quality.”
Sunday will be the first time in 12 years that the Blucerchiati travel to the Tombolato. The last meeting between the two clubs ended in a Cittadella victory, defeating Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris 1-2 in September.
Sampdoria boss Andrea Pirlo is on the hot seat after an underwhelming first 21 games. Reports this week indicate that Pirlo could get sacked if the Blucerchiati lose on Sunday. Pirlo’s side is close to the relegation zone entering the weekend, sitting on 23 points in 15th place.
Despite the loss last weekend in Terni, Cittadella still remains seven points clear in the playoff zone. Gorini’s men have won five straight home games, scoring a combined 13 goals in those games at the Tombolato.
After Saturday’s results, Cittadella can go 10 points clear of 9th place with a win against Sampdoria. The Granata can also go level on points with Como with a victory on Sunday. Pirlo’s men find themselves just a single point above the relegation play-out zone, as well as being eight points behind 8th place Modena.
Another big crowd is expected on the weekend. Roughly 6,000 people are expected to be in the stands on Sunday, which would be on par of the attendance in Cittadella’s last home match against Palermo.
PHOTO: Massimo Felicetti