Sampdoria vs. AC Milan: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

AC Milan and Sampdoria meet for the second time in less than a month on Thursday in a Coppa Italia clash that could prove pivotal for their respective seasons.

The teams last faced one another on November 28 in Serie A action at the San Siro. On that day, Milan ran out comfortable 4-1 winners as things began to look up for them. However, since then, they have drawn with the league’s bottom two outfits, Carpi and Verona.

Sampdoria, meanwhile, have endured a continued crisis since that hammering on away territory. Immediately following that match, they lost 3-1 at home to Sassuolo in a fourth consecutive defeat as new coach Vincenzo Montella strained to improve the Blucerchiati’s fortunes.

Quite simply, both teams have been starved of success lately and a victory would provide an uplifting end to a traumatic few weeks.

Sinisa Mihajlovic knows the Stadio Luigi Ferraris well having coached Sampdoria between 2013 and 2015. Previously the Serbian had pulled on the club’s colours as a player in the 1990s. Now he is in charge of Milan, though his future is reportedly hanging by a thread.

After the Rossoneri’s disappointing draw with Verona last Sunday, Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia) claimed that he “risks the sack if the club don’t win their next two matches.”

As such, it is with uncertainty that Mihajlovic proceeds as Milan coach and anything other than victory on his old stomping ground could see him out of a job before the winter break.

Date: Thursday, 17 December

Time: 8:00 p.m. GMT/3:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy

TV Info: Not available

Live Stream: Bet365

Form Guide

Lazio 1-1 Sampdoria

Sampdoria 1-3 Sassuolo

Milan 4-1 Sampdoria

Udinese 1-0 Sampdoria

Sampdoria 0-2 Fiorentina

Milan 1-1 Verona

Carpi 0-0 Milan

Milan 3-1 Crotone (Coppa Italia fourth round)

Milan 4-1 Sampdoria

Juventus 1-0 Milan

Team News and Predicted Lineups

GIUSEPPE CACACE/Getty Images

Andrea Bertolacci returned to action against Verona, coming off the bench to replace Riccardo Montolivo on 78 minutes. The former Genoa man nearly made an immediate impact, volleying past the post late on as Milan chased the win.

His return will be welcomed as—prior to his spell out through injury—he was beginning to find form with the club after initially struggling following his €20 million move from Roma in the summer.

Bertolacci could start against Sampdoria, perhaps replacing Juraj Kucka in the side to add greater creativity and technical expertise.

Mario Balotelli’s return is on hold for the time being, however. Per Football Italia, both he and centre-back Alex are “suffering with ‘flu-like symptoms’” and may miss out on Thursday’s tie.

Balotelli’s absence means that either M’Baye Niang or Luiz Adriano will partner Carlos Bacca up front, while Philippe Mexes may come in for Alex in central defence.

Sampdoria’s only serious injury worry concerns Eder, their top scorer. The Italy international has hit 10 league goals this season and, without him, Montella’s side may lack bite in the final third.

Sampdoria (4-3-3): Emiliano Viviano; Lorenzo De Silvestri, Matias Silvestre, Niklas Moisander, Vasco Regini; Roberto Soriano, Fernando, Edgar Barretto; Carlos Carbonero, Luis Muriel, Lazaros Christodopoulos.

Milan (4-4-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Ignazio Abate, Philippe Mexes, Alessio Romagnoli, Mattia De Sciglio; Alessio Cerci, Andrea Bertolacci, Riccardo Montolivo, Giacomo Bonaventura; Luiz Adriano, Carlos Bacca.

Players to Watch

Roberto Soriano (Sampdoria)

Undoubtedly Sampdoria’s most creative player, Soriano will be aiming to ghost into the space between Milan’s midfield and defensive lines.

Per WhoScored.com, he has more assists than anyone else in Montella’s squad, indicating that—should he find the aforementioned space—he could be extremely dangerous.

Andrea Bertolacci (Milan)

Bertolacci has returned after a long spell out through injury, and he should relish the chance to show his skills in this cup clash, where his elegant touch and crisp passing could be crucial to opening up Sampdoria’s defence.

Key Battle

Lorenzo De Silvestri (Sampdoria) vs. Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan)

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Bonaventura’s cutting-in from the left-hand side has been an integral component of Milan’s attacking play in recent months, leading to five assists, three goals and a healthy 7.5 in WhoScored's performance rating.

Against Sampdoria, though, he will come up against De Silvestri, an experienced right-back and Azzurri international with a penchant for aggressive defending.

If Bonaventura can shake off De Silvestri’s attentions, he can link up with his team-mates to create scoring opportunities.

Odds

Sampdoria: 21/10

Milan: 16/11

Draw: 5/2

Odds provided by Oddschecker