Sampdoria vs Juventus preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

Juventus maintained their impressive unbeaten run in Serie A last weekend with a slender home win against Spezia and another favourable fixture awaits them on Matchday 29.

Marco Giampaolo’s Sampdoria currently lie 15th in the table following back-to-back defeats and they’re just four points adrift of the relegation zone. The returning manager hasn’t overseen the requisite bounce that’d lead Samp to safety, and they’re in distinct danger of falling into the relegation dogfight.

However, a result on Saturday would ease any fears of a shock drop to Serie B.

Juve, though, haven’t tasted defeat in Serie A since late November and they’ve emerged as one of Europe’s stoutest defences during that period. While they flatter to deceive from a stylistic and aesthetic perspective, there’s no denying their recent efficacy.

The Bianconeri are in a prime position to secure a once unlikely top-four finish, while some have tipped Allegri’s side as outsiders for the Scudetto.

Roberto D’Aversa was the Sampdoria boss when these two sides last met in Serie A as Juve claimed a 3-2 victory in Turin. The Old Lady more recently got the better of Saturday’s opponents in the Coppa Italia round of 16.

Sampdoria vs Juventus preview

Here’s our preview of Juventus’ trip to Sampdoria in Serie A on Saturday evening.

How to Watch Sampdoria vs Juventus

When is kick-off? Saturday 12 March

What time is kick-off? 17:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Luigi Ferraris Stadium

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 3 (UK), Paramount+ (US)

Referee? Paolo Valeri

Sampdoria Team News

Nicola Murru is suspended due to yellow card accumulation and he should be replaced in Sampdoria’s starting XI by Tommaso Augello.

Ronaldo Vieira could return from an ankle injury this weekend, as could Kristoffer Askildsen (knee). Morten Thorsby will also make his comeback from suspension.

Mikkel Damsgaard and Manolo Gabbiadini are both long-term absentees.

Juventus Team News

Juve’s injury list remains lengthy although Mattia De Sciglio and Giorgio Chiellini could return for Saturday’s trip to Samp.

Paulo Dybala, Federico Chiesa, Alex Sandro, Kaio Jorge, Weston McKennie and Leonardo Bonucci are all missing, while Federico Bernardeschi is suspended after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the Serie A action on his return to action last weekend.

Allegri should rest Dusan Vlahovic ahead of next Wednesday’s all-important second leg against Villarreal. That means Moise Kean should start alongside Alvaro Morata up front.

Sampdoria vs Juventus Predicted Lineups

Sampdoria: Falcone; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Rincon, Ekdal, Candreva; Sensi; Caputo, Quagliarella.

Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, Rugani, De Ligt, Pellegrini; Cuadrado, Locatelli, Arthur, Rabiot; Morata, Kean.

Sampdoria’s Recent Form

Udinese 2-1 Sampdoria (05/03) – Serie A

Atalanta 4-0 Sampdoria (28/02) – Serie A

Sampdoria 2-0 Empoli (19/02) – Serie A

AC Milan 1-0 Sampdoria (13/02) – Serie A

Sampdoria 4-0 Sassuolo (06/02) – Serie A

Juventus’ Recent Form

Juventus 1-0 Spezia (06/03) – Serie A

Fiorentina 0-1 Juventus (02/03) – Coppa Italia

Empoli 2-3 Juventus (26/02) – Serie A

Villarreal 1-1 Juventus (22/02) – Champions League

Juventus 1-1 Torino (18/02) – Serie A

Prediction

Outside of the Empoli victory, Juventus have certainly rode their luck in recent weeks to maintain their impressive unbeaten run.

Thus, I fear the Bianconeri could slip up when they least expect it on Saturday. While Giampaolo perhaps hasn’t had the desired effect on his return to the Luigi Ferraris, Sampdoria are slowly entering desperation mode to avoid getting dragged into the relegation dogfight.

And with Max Allegri poised to rest Vlahovic, I think this may be the contest in which Juve’s injury woes and the manager’s conservative ideals finally catch up with them. The hosts certainly have the talent going forward to hurt a stout Bianconeri outfit.

I’m backing the upset.

Prediction: Sampdoria 2-1 Juventus