Sampdoria vs Juventus 19/12/19

19 December 2019

The two sides that have had identical returns from their last two Serie A (SA) matches (W1, L1) go head-to-head at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, as relegation-threatened Sampdoria take on second-placed Juventus.

A 1-0 away win over Genoa has halted Sampdoria’s two-game losing SA run, propelling the home side two points clear of the relegation zone. If Claudio Ranieri’s men manage to pick up three points here, it would be the first time since March that Sampdoria win two straight league matches. But, it will be a daunting prospect for ‘Il Doria’ to do that, as they’ve won only once in their last six SA home outings (W1, D3, L2). That’s a sharp contrast to their recent SA home H2H record against Juventus, whom they’ve beaten in both of their previous top-flight H2Hs held here. Nevertheless, for Sampdoria, goals have been at a premium at home this season, with the Genoa-based outfit scoring one goal or less in seven of eight league games at this venue.

The visitors have, meanwhile, secured back-to-back competitive triumphs following a 3-1 away defeat to Lazio, with both of those wins coming via a comfortable two-goal margin. The reigning holders lacked landslide away victories this season, as four of Juve’s five SA road wins came via a single-goal margin, with five of their last six league road trips seeing both teams score. Curiously, all seven of the Bianconeri’s previous SA away games have seen them head into halftime on level terms. Still, Maurizio Sarri’s men have been ruthless against the bottom-five sides this season, winning all four of their previous such fixtures, netting at least two goals in each of those successes.