Following an unexpected runner-up finish in 2020/21, Milan will be looking to do one better this season as they head to Sampdoria for their Serie A opener. A trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris could invoke some pleasant memories in the traveling camp as the Rossoneri seek another flying start to a new league campaign.
Despite losing two long-serving stalwarts in the shape of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu this summer, Stefano Pioli will aim to defy expectations again and install Milan in the title race. The Rossoneri were going head-to-head and toe-to-toe with local rivals Inter for most of last season, but a dip in form down the final stretch of 2020/21 saw them finish 12 points adrift of the Nerazzurri.
Meanwhile, Sampdoria ensured a ninth-place finish for the third time in four years, with the club parting with manager Claudio Ranieri at the end of last season. New boss Roberto D’Aversa failed to keep Parma in the top-flight in 2020/21. Yet, his attacking-minded football philosophy could spark Sampdoria’s hope of challenging higher up the table this term.
Sampdoria vs Milan Head-To-Head
After suffering back-to-back Serie A defeats ‘to nil’ at Luigi Ferraris, Milan have won their last two top-flight visits to Sampdoria by an aggregate score of 6-2.
The Rossoneri have lost just one of their previous seven league matches against Sampdoria (W4, D2) and are unbeaten in the last four in a row (W2, D2), with both wins in that sequence coming away from home.
But there’s a good omen for the home side here, with La Samp going undefeated in their last three Serie A seasonal openers against Milan (W2, D1). Indeed, Sampdoria eked out a 1-0 win in their most recent such encounter back in August 2012.
Sampdoria Preview
After finishing outside the top seven in six Serie A seasons in a row and without and eye-catching signings in the summer, it is hard to make a case for Sampdoria to compete for European places.
A positive start could come in handy, though, as D’Aversa hopes to snap his side’s run of three consecutive defeats ‘to nil’ in their opening Serie A fixtures.
On the brighter note, Sampdoria racked up three victories across their final four home Serie A outings in 2020/21 (D1), prevailing by a margin of 2+ goals on each occasion.
Additionally, the Blucerchiati have netted two or more goals in eight of their 12 league matches at Luigi Ferraris this calendar year, including the last four on the trot.
Excluding the relegated clubs, only two sides lost more Serie A games when trailing at half-time than Sampdoria (5) last season, which highlights the hosts’ lack of character.
Milan Preview
Most of the credit for Milan’s somewhat surprising runner-up finish in 2020/21 goes to an impressive start to the season that saw the Rossoneri go unbeaten in their opening 15 Serie A fixtures (W11, D4).
Pioli navigated the seven-time Champions League winners to their first top-four finish since 2012/13, mainly thanks to a sublime away form.
Indeed, Milan posted a record-breaking 16 victories in 19 Serie A trips last season. No other side from Europe’s top-five division has ever won as many away games in a single league campaign!
Against this backdrop, the Lombard heavyweights have suffered four defeats in their last six Serie A openers away from home, winning the other two.
Mike Maignan, who swapped Lille for the San Siro in the summer, will make his competitive debut for the new club on Monday. The French goalkeeper, who came in to replace Donnarumma, will be aiming to lead Milan to their sixth consecutive clean sheet in Serie A, a feat they last managed to achieve in February 1994.
Notably, Milan scored 2+ goals in all 16 Serie A wins away from home last season. In the absence of injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud should soak up the limelight as Pioli’s first-choice centre-forward.
The experienced striker arrived from Chelsea earlier in the summer and will be keen to impress on his competitive debut following a stunning off-season campaign.
Sampdoria vs Milan Players to Watch
When it comes to Sampdoria’s scoring prospects, Fabio Quagliarella is the man in charge. The veteran forward finished last season as his side’s top scorer with 13 goals and marked his 500th Serie A appearance on the final day of 2020/21.
An array of impressive moments produced by the Italian star includes a sophisticated long-range chip of Donnarumma that helped Sampdoria hold Milan to a 1-1 draw in their most recent encounter.
Quagliarella’s Milan counterpart Giroud found the net three times in four pre-season warm-up fixtures for the Rossoneri, including a brace in his only start against Panathinaikos. Delivering action from the onset, the 34-year-old has registered three of his last five competitive strikes inside the opening 35 minutes of play.
Sampdoria vs Milan Predicted Line-ups
Sampdoria (4-2-3-1): Emil Audero; Tommaso Augello, Julian Chabot, Jeison Murillo, Bartosz Bereszynski; Albin Ekdal, Morten Thorsby; Mikkel Dansgaard, Manolo Gabbiadini, Antonio Candreva; Fabio Quagliarella.
Milan (4-4-2): Mike Maignan; Theo Hernandez, Fikayo Tomori, Simon Kjaer, Davide Calabria; Rafael Leao, Rane Krunic, Sandro Tonali, Alexis Saelemaekers; Olivier Giroud, Ante Rebic.