Sampdoria vs Cagliari preview - Cagliari hope for end to away blues

Posted Saturday, February 08, 2014 by PA

Cagliari's hunt for a long overdue win away from home continues against Sampdoria at the Luigi Ferraris stadium on Sunday.

The Sardinian outfit have not won on the road in Serie A since last February, a 2-0 triumph at Pescara.

With just five points - all from draws - collected away from Cagliari this season, Diego Lopez's men have had to rely on home comforts to remain clear of the drop zone.

Last weekend's 1-0 triumph over Fiorentina halted a three-match losing streak and was Cagliari's fifth win of the campaign.

The result lifted the Islanders to 14th position, seven points clear of the drop zone.

"The win against Fiorentina came at the right time because our morale was low after three consecutive defeats," Cagliari striker Mauricio Pinilla said.

"We played very well against Fiorentina and we hope we can do the same at Sampdoria.

"We need to start getting points away from home in order to climb up in the standings.

"I believe we can bring back three points from Genoa."

Sampdoria head into the encounter on the back of a narrow win in the Genoa derby.

Maxi Lopez's goal handed Samp their sixth league win and lifted them one place and one point clear of Sunday's rivals.

Lopez, who joined the Genoa outfit on loan from Catania last week, hopes that goal will be the first of many.

"It was important for the squad to win such an important game as the derby is," the Argentinian striker said.

"I want to thank Sampdoria and coach Sinisa Mihajlovic for giving me this opportunity

"I am sure if we continue to play as we did against Genoa we will achieve our aims this season."

Lopez will again lead Samp's attack, while defender Shkodra Mustafi will miss the game through suspension. The visitors are without defender Francesco Pisano and striker Vitor Ibarbo, both out injured, while midfielder Daniele Dessena serves a one-match ban.