Sampdoria vs Inter Milan preview - Mihajlovic wants to maintain pace

Red-hot Sampdoria will host struggling Inter Milan on Sunday in a vital game for the home side if they want to push for Champions League football next season.

Samp are exceeding their pre-season aims and are sixth in the standings, four points adrift of third-place Lazio.

While coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is not under pressure to make it into the top three by season's end, he could very well achieve that if Samp finish the campaign strongly.

Samp won 2-0 at Roma last weekend for their third straight win.

"This was a great victory," Mihajlovic told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We showed great sacrifice in order to bring home three points.

"When we had to defend, we defend, when we had to dare, we dared.

"I congratulate my players.

"But our third straight victory means nothing if don't win on Sunday against Inter."

Samp are unbeaten at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, where they have won six of their 13 home games.

Inter travel to Genoa licking their wounds after crashing out of the Europa League in the last 16 stages.

The Nerazzurri fell 2-1 at home to Wolfsburg on Thursday to lose 5-2 on aggregate.

"We are making too many mistakes," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "We are disappointed.

"We had our chances to turn the tie around but we concede too many goals and we pay the price.

"Perhaps I have not explained myself well to my players.

"The team must understand the concept that you can't win games if you give away goals.

"Sometimes we just seem too vulnerable."

Inter will be desperate to snap a three-match winless run in Serie A in Genoa.

Last weekend's 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Cesena dropped Inter to eighth in the standings, eight points behind Sampdoria, who hold the last European qualifying spot.

Samp welcome back midfielder Afriyie Acquah from suspension.