Sampdoria v Como Bet Builder Stats & Predictions
Sampdoria v Como
Kick Off: Sunday 11th August, 19:45
Competition: Coppa Italia
Watch Live: N/A
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The Coppa Italia first round kicks off this weekend, with Sampdoria hosting Como in one of the most intriguing ties of the competition. Samp, once European Cup finalists, find themselves in a difficult period of their history. They will begin a second successive campaign in Serie B after Andrea Pirlo failed to lead them back to the top-flight immediately.
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On the other hand, Como are one of the most exciting projects in European football. Fronted by Cesc Fabregas, they have completed the eye-catching additions of Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno, Raphael Varane and Andrea Belotti this summer. This game, therefore, marks the beginning of a new era for the club as they return to Serie A for the first time in more than two decades.
Match stats: Fabregas to lead Como through
Such has been the influx of new players to this Como side, it is difficult to read too much into the meetings between the clubs’ from last season. These ended with the home team winning 1-0 on the banks of Lake Como in September thanks to a goal from Nikolas Ioannou, who will now be in Sampdoria’s colours for this match, while the second game ended 1-1. In that clash, former Liverpool striker Fabio Borini scored for Pirlo’s side, while ex-Wolves forward Patrick Cutrone levelled up.
Como’s games last term involved goals at both ends, with six of their last seven Serie B games ending with both teams scoring. By contrast, only two of Samp’s last six saw strikes at either end. The home side, though, will be doing well to shut out Como in this clash.
Belotti’s addition to the visitors’ front line will add serious menace to this side if he is available to play. Equally, Sampdoria suffered from an injury to Borini last term and will be significantly stronger with him available once more. Also bear in mind that two of Como’s aces in the form of Varane and Belotti failed to feature in last week’s scoreless draw against Wolfsburg.
Nevertheless, the visiting side should have the capacity to start the season by at least avoiding defeat, with the odds on them to qualify sitting at an attractive 1.73, which is arguably the pick of the bets on this game given the quality they possess in their newly strengthened squad.
Prediction:
Como to qualify
Both teams to score
Goal stats: Cutrone and Tutino with a track record
Cutrone is the player to look for to find the net in this game, particularly after he netted in this fixture last season. The 25-year-old scored 14 Serie B goals to lead Como in this regard last term. He registered at the rate of 0.51 per 90 and was their only player to reach double figures. With the status of star signing Belotti doubtful prior to this clash, he is a figure well worth monitoring.
On Belotti, the form of the former Torino forward has been weak in recent seasons. He has netted only six Serie A goals across the last two campaigns. Even if he plays, he does not guarantee goals in his new side. Another possibility to follow is Simone Verdi, who typically plays in the midfield. He scored 0.41 per 90 last season – eight Serie B goals in total – but was Como’s penalty kick taker, converting all four he struck. This duty is likely to fall to him again should the need arise.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, have bolstered their attacking possibilities in the summer by signing centre-forward Gennaro Tutino (Cosenza) and Massimo Coda (Genoa) as well as Barcelona left winger Estanis Pedrola. Hopes are high that Tutino, in particular, will be a boon.
Between them, these forwards scored 36 Serie B goals last term, with the Cosenza loanee getting 20 of these. Allied to the threat Borini should carry after netting 0.55 goals per 90 last season, this Sampdoria side should be considerably more threatening than the one that played last term.
Borini and Tutino will cause their top-flight opponents particular concern. Indeed, the latter scored twice for Cosenza against Como last term.
Predictions:
Patrick Cutrone to score anytime
Gennaro Tutino to score anytime
Card stats: Depaoli and Moreno set for thrilling duel
Sampdoria were one of the most prolific teams in Serie B last season when it came to committing fouls. They were aggressive off the ball, which led to them committing 581 fouls, which was the third-highest tally in the league. This resulted in 110 yellow cards and four reds – exactly three cards received per game.
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Como, on the other hand, picked up 83 yellows and five reds, giving them 2.31 cards per game. The hosts here, meanwhile, were masters are drawing their opponents into ugly matches. Their opponents picked up 3.05 cards per game and committed more fouls than them.
With referee Giuseppe Collu having shown at least five cards in six of his last nine Serie B outings last season, including half a dozen as Sampdoria draw at Ascoli in October, another flurry of cards is likely. Como were not immune. In the two clashes between the clubs, there were seven and six yellow cards shown, with Sampdoria picking up eight of these.
Borini picked up cards in both of these games, making him a prime candidate to be shown another yellow in this encounter. He was the only player to be carded in both clashes. Wing-back Fabio Depaoli is another to watch. He picked up 11 cards last term at the rate of 0.42 per 90 in Serie B, including one against Como.
From Como’s perspective, the likeliest criminal to be punished is Frenchman Lucas Da Cunha, who picked up seven cautions in league play last term. With 13 goal contributions (seven goals, six assists), he is a vital chain in the attack and should get plenty of minutes in this game. Last term, he was picking up 0.24 cards per 90, which was the highest figure among Como players who featured for at least 1,800 minutes.
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Alberto Moreno, meanwhile, is a wildcard to pick up a caution after picking up 0.42 cards per 90 with Villarreal in Serie A last season. He could be up against Depaoli, who is a player who likes to take a lot of touches and was Sampdoria’s most-fouled last season, winning 65 free-kicks at a rate of 2.46 per 90.
Predictions:
Over 4.5 cards
Fabio Depaoli to receive a card
Alberto Moreno to receive a card
By: @AndysBetClubUK
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Sampdoria
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