Juventus vs Sampdoria: 3 key Sampdoria players to keep an eye on
Juventus will be looking to secure their first home victory this Sunday when they will be taking on UC Sampdoria at the Allianz Stadium. Like Juventus, Sampdoria have made a poor start to their 2021/22 Serie A season, losing two and drawing two games from five played thus far.
In the points table, Juventus top Sampdoria by a mere one-goal margin. The former presently occupy 12th spot, while the latter sit in 13th position. A win for any side, hence, would mean a massive leap from mediocracy to prominence.
Though, Juventus should approach the game on the front foot as far as the current form is concerned. The Bianconeri won their first game in the midweek against Spezia, while Sampdoria underwent a miserable 4-0 defeat to Napoli in their backyard.
Key Sampdoria players to play against Juventus on Sunday
It should be common knowledge that Juventus, on paper, are stronger than Sampdoria. However, we have not seen them play in accord with their potential this season yet.
Even though they went all the way to seal the three points in the game against Spezia, Allegri’s men were massively underwhelming. Plus, the likelihood of Massimiliano Allegri making changes to his team is looming large.
If Bianconeri’s recent performances are anything to go by, these three Sampdoria players possess the capability of taking Juve by the throat.
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3. Francesco Caputo
Roberto D’Aversa’s side has scored five goals so far in Serie A 2021/22, with two of them being recorded by their number ten in Francesco Caputo. Both goals were scored in the game against Empoli last weekend.
Signed from Sassuolo on a season-long loan deal in the last summer transfer window, Caputo has adapted to his new life pretty well at Sampdoria. Known for his technical abilities in tight spaces, Ciccio, as called by his teammates, usually leads the two-man forward line for D’Aversa’s men.
D’Aversa prefers fielding his team in the 4-4-2 formation, where Caputo, alongside Fabio Quagliarella, is tasked with doing all the pressing from the front and orchestrating the forward line by obtaining a direct approach.
FBref.com shows that Caputo has already recoded an xG [expected goals] of 1.6 and logged two goals, meaning the Italian forward has made the most out of the chances he has got in front of the goal. In short, thanks to his cunning and clinical finishing, he is somewhat overperforming at the moment or doing more than what is expected of him.
In midweek, he was calm — perhaps this was the calmness before the havoc Juventus are about to face on Sunday. Consequently, Francesco Caputo becomes one of the players Juventus should be wary of this weekend.