This game will test the mental strength of Sampdoria as much as anything else, after their terrible loss to Juventus earlier in the week.

After a sensational start to the league, which saw the club topping the table at one point, reality bit them, and bit them hard as they slumped to a 5-1 drubbing in the last round.

They are in no danger of losing the third place, unless Parma trump Milan by a six-goal margin, so it would be safe to say that the Blucerchiati will retain their third position irrespective of the outcome of this game.

However, should they slip up against their newly promoted opponents, there is a very real danger of stepping off the gas in these early stages.

Football Italiano