Sassuolo travel to face bottom clubSampdoria today
Serie A basement dwellers Sampdoria will be looking to avoid further humiliation when Sassuolo travel to Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Friday night.
The hosts find themselves six points adrift at the foot of the table, while the visitors sit 26 points above La Samp with two matches remaining.
To say that Sampdoria have endured a disappointing campaign would be a colossal understatement, as the former Serie A champions have managed to win just three of their 36 league games this season, suffering 24 defeats in the process.
Worse still, La Samp have netted a measly 22 goals this term, making them the lowest scorers in the division, and they also possess the worst defensive record in Italy’s top tier, having conceded 67 goals.
As a result, Dejan Stankovic‘s men find themselves 13 points from safety with six points left to play for, and they head into Friday’s clash on the back of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of AC Milan.
Given that Sassuolo finished eighth in 2019-20 and 2020-21 before ending the previous campaign in 11th place, AlessioDionisi‘s men will be eager to win their remaining two matches and finish the season on a high.
Having claimed a measly three league wins all season, Sampdoria’s campaign looks set to go from bad to worse on Friday, as Sassuolo are expected to inflict yet another defeat on the division’s bottom club.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Inter Milan, Atalantaclose in on top-four positions
The fight for the top four in Serie A is a key focus this weekend and Inter Milan and Atalanta are closing in on securing top-four positions.
Inter have a nervous final few weeks to the campaign, as Simone Inzaghi gears up for their huge Champions League final tie with Manchester City on June 10th. Inzaghi’s charges have reached their first Champions League final since 2010 and despite their underdog status, the Serie A side are capable of an upset.
On the domestic front, one more win will ensure a top four finish and a Champions League place for next season – and Inzaghi will want to get that box ticked as soon as possible.
Inter have won five of their last six league games and have lost just twice at home since the start of April across all competitions.
Despite Atalanta’s form not being particularly poor, the sense is that Inzaghi wants top four sealed before the final weekend in order to start his planning for the game against City.
Credit: football-italia.net
Real Madrid set to make back-to-back wins againstSevilla
Real Madrid will be bidding to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they travel to Estadio Ramon on Saturday evening to tackle Sevilla in their penultimate match of their 2022-23 campaign.
Los Blancos will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, while Sevilla, who will face Roma in the Europa League final next week, drew 1-1 with Elche on the same night.
Sevilla’s main focus at this stage of the campaign will undoubtedly be the Europa League final against Roma next Wednesday, and a victory in that match would see them qualify for next season’s Champions League.
However, Jose Luis Mendilibar‘s side will not want to completely discount the league, as they will have no European football next season as it stands, with the team currently ninth in the table on 49 points.
Sevilla, who will end their La Liga campaign away to Real Sociedad on June 4, have been inconsistent at home this season, only picking up 26 points from 18 matches, but Real Madrid have lost seven times on their travels in the league this season, with Los Blancos below the standard that they set last season.
Sevilla’s focus is currently on the Europa League final, and the home side will be resting some important players for this match. Real Madrid are also unlikely to be at full strength, so we can see a draw in this game, which both managers would likely accept if it were offered ahead of kickoff here.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Aston Villa aim at European spot as they host Brighton
Aston Villa and Brighton are two sides that have been led to new heights by incoming managers, who meet on the final day of the Premier League season.
Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard and has led the Villans up to seventh, which would be good enough for Europa Conference League play-off spot. The Seagulls managed to secure sixth place with a draw against Manchester City on Wednesday, making it their best ever season in the top flight.
Aston Villa and Brighton have been in direct competition for a European spot towards the end of the season and it’s still a possibility for the home side, who sit seventh a point ahead of Tottenham ahead of the final day.
Bettering Spurs’ result at Leeds will bag Unai Emery’s side a Europa Conference League play-off round spot and there’s potential for goals in Birmingham as the Villans chase that victory while the Seagulls attempt to draw them in and pounce.
The result should be a fascinating game filled with entertainment to bring a close to successful seasons for both clubs.
Credit: 90min.com
