Samp set for Genoa derby, Inter battle Atalanta
>> ROME: Former Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella said respective positions in the league table will be ignored today when Sampdoria face Genoa in derby “battle for 90 minutes”.
With leaders Juventus having hosted AC Milan yesterday looking to extend their eight-point lead over second-placed Roma, who are in action tomorrow at Palermo, the focus of this weekend’s Serie A action is on the Luigi Ferraris stadium.
Sampdoria, sitting 10th at 29 points off the lead, are nine points ahead of Genoa in 15th place in a season where top flight survival for both is the only objective.
Having won their home fixture 2-1 last October, Quagliarella is confident Marco Giampaolo’s men can make it two in a row, telling Premium Sport: “We’re going into this game totally relaxed, although it’s a game that won’t take into account our respective league standings.
“Our results recently have shown how well we’re doing, but the derby is a match apart. It will be a battle for 90 minutes. Hopefully, we’ll win our second this season.”
Meanwhile, the fight for European places continues apace.
Inter Milan, one of several teams battling for a coveted Champions League spot, face the acid test with the visit of high-flying Atalanta to the San Siro tomorrow.
Amid their best Serie A season to date, Atalanta sit fifth, one point ahead of Inter and five points behind Napoli in the third and last Champions League qualifying spot.
Portugal midfielder Joao Mario admits the Bergamo side pose a “difficult” challenge, but said: “On Sunday [tomorrow] we can gift everyone at Inter with a win, that’s what we want.”
Stefano Pioli’s men return to the San Siro for the first time since a chastening 3-1 defeat to Roma, who saw Radja Nainggolan stun the stadium into silence with a spectacular double.
A superb 5-1 win at Cagliari last week that saw Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic hit a brace, suggests Inter are back firing on all cylinders.
Mario added: “We really believe we can finish third, that’s what we’re working towards. We can’t let Napoli get away.”