Sampdoria vs US Sassuolo Calcio preview - Samp seek home comforts

Posted Saturday, November 02, 2013 by PA

Sampdoria coach Delio Rossi has stressed to his players the importance of improving their poor home form, starting with Sunday's game against promoted-side Sassuolo.

Rossi's side have picked up just one win from their five games at the Luigi Ferraris stadium this season, scoring only three goals and conceding eight in the process.

"We are working hard and the team is improving," Rossi said. "Results at home will be crucial in our fight to remain in the top flight.

"Hence, we must start getting points in Genoa."

Samp go into the encounter on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Hellas Verona.

The outcome halted a three-match unbeaten run for the Blucerchiati and saw them fall to 16th place, three points clear of the relegation zone.

"I didn't like the way my team played," Rossi said."They didn't interpret the game how I wanted and we were incapable of reacting after Verona took the lead.

"I hope this is just a one off and my team shows its true value against Sassuolo."

Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco preferred to focus on the positives after his team fell 2-1 against Udinese in midweek.

The result was Sassuolo's sixth defeat of the campaign and dropped the promoted outfit to 19th place.

"We were punished by a great goal scored by (Udinese's) Luis Muriel," Di Francesco said. "But if there was a team that deserved the win it was Sassuolo.

"We cannot be down as the team gave everything and played well.

"We are creating a lot of chances and this is a positive sign but we are not finishing them off."

Sassuolo have the leakiest defence in Serie A with 24 goals given away while they have found the net just eight times.

The visitors must overcome the absence of the team's top scorer Simone Zaza, who serves a one-match ban after being sent off against Udinese.