Image copyright: Getty Images
Sampdoria v Milan
2021-22 Serie A
Matchday 1
23 August 2021
Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Sampdoria will look to open their league campaign with the scalp of Milan at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on the evening of Monday 23 August. The match is one of 10 spread across 21-23 August in the first Matchday of the
2021-22 Serie A season.
Samp ended last season in a respectable ninth place on the log, though manager Claudio Ranieri lost his job to Roberto D’Aversa. They will continue to look to beloved veteran Fabio Quagliarella for goals (he has netted 81 times in the past five league seasons), while defender
Bartosz Bereszysnki is hopeful that D’Aversa’s approach climbs them even further up the log.
“Since we have been in Bogliasco I have been training in a group and I see that he is very attentive to tactics and dead balls,” said Bereszysnki. “I'm an optimist by nature and I always want to do better than the previous year, and he also seems to have this same approach.”
Image copyright: Getty Images
Milan enjoyed a fine campaign in 2020-21, coming home in second place to ensure a return to the UEFA Champions League and possibly set themselves up for a run at the Serie A title. The Rossoneri have retained manager Stefano Pioli and much of the fine, predominantly young squad which did duty last term.
Former Manchester City forward Brahim Diaz believes that last season’s experience will help Milan challenge even more strongly in 2021-22.
“I expect the team to be fully committed, to fight in all competitions to be protagonists, it will not be easy because there are excellent opponents but we are a strong team,” said the attacker. “Last year's experience at the summit will be very useful. We have to do our best to be competitive and stay at the top.”
He added, “We are a young team, perhaps the youngest in Serie A but we also have experienced players. A mix that allows us to always stay focused and to live every moment in the best way.”
Image copyright: Getty Images
In head-to-head stats, Sampdoria and Milan have met in 50 matches across all competitions since 1994. The Rossoneri have claimed 28 wins compared to 12 for the Blucerchiati, while 10 games have been drawn.
Milan took four points off Samp last season, winning 2-1 in Genoa in December 2020 before a 1-1 draw in the return game at the San Siro in April 2021.
Sampdoria v Milan – Head-to-head
Matches played: 50
Sampdoria wins: 12
Milan wins: 28
Draws: 10
Bet on Serie A with Betway
Sign up at Betway and enjoy solid action and heart-racing thrills when you bet on soccer leagues such as the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga and many more.
Join us today and we’ll give you a GHS 15 Free Bet to bet on all of your favourite teams, players and leagues
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.