Sampdoriavs.Como

Two top-class midfielders now meet in management, as Andrea Pirlo welcomes Cesc Fabregas to Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Match preview

While Como booked a precious place in Serie A by finishing runners-up to second-tier champions Parma last season, Sampdoria fell short in the playoffs, losing 2-0 to Palermo and failing to make the semi-finals.

The 1991 Scudetto-winners - who reached the European Cup final one year later - have since fallen from grace, and they are now building towards another Serie B campaign under ex-Italy playmaker and Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo.

He has retained the board's faith despite a modest seventh-placed finish last term, but the Blucerchiati faithful are not likely to remain patient if Samp start slowly in 2024-25 - three wins from four in pre-season suggest that may be possible.

Ahead of their league opener away to freshly-relegated Frosinone, Pirlo's side will play host in the Coppa Italia, a competition Samp won four times during their 1980-90s heyday.

Last season, the Genoa club held Como to a draw at Marassi, having previously lost 1-0 in Lombardy, so they will be hoping to go one better this weekend and secure a spot in the second round.

Another world champion during his playing days, Cesc Fabregas, will spearhead Como's first top-flight campaign in 21 years, which kicks off next week away to Calcio giants Juventus.

Following promotion, the former Spain star has taken over from Welsh boss Osian Roberts, who moved upstairs to become head of development at a club run by the richest owners in Italian football.

Also a minority shareholder, Fabregas shares the hierarchy's ambition of making a major impact on Serie A in the years ahead, and his fellow World Cup winner Raphael Varane recently became their highest-profile recruit so far.

Como's pre-season friendlies brought wins over Cagliari and Las Palmas, before defeat to Saudi giants Al-Hilal was followed by last week's goalless draw with Wolfsburg.

After winning 21 of their 38 league games last season, the Lariani are set to face tougher challenges this term, but they will expect to progress in the cup against Serie B opposition.

Sampdoria pre-season form:

Como pre-season form:

Team News

Joining Varane by Lake Como, two new goalkeepers - Pepe Reina and former Inter Milan reserve Emil Audero - are both ready for action this weekend, while ex-Liverpool wing-back Alberto Moreno lends further experience to the squad.

Several other players with many Serie A matches under their belt have also arrived this summer, including Andrea Belotti, who has racked up 112 goals in Italy's top flight but only six in the last two seasons - at Roma, then Fiorentina.

'Il Gallo' could be supported by Patrick Cutrone up front on Sunday, when Cypriot full-back Nikolas Ioannou will meet up with his parent club.

Sampdoria were obviously impressed when he scored the winner in last September's league meeting, so they have signed the 28-year-old on loan for the season, in addition to ex-Como captain Alessandro Bellemo.

Veteran forward Fabio Borini is set to start in the hosts' attack, most likely in support of Manuel De Luca or Massimo Coda.

Sampdoria possible starting lineup:

Ravaglia; Yepes, Romagnoli, Vulikic; Venuti, Benedetti, Akinsanmiro, Bellemo, Ioannou; Borini; Coda

Como possible starting lineup:

Reina; Kovacik, Goldaniga, Dossena, Moreno; Abildgaard, Mazzitelli; Strefezza, Cutrone, Da Cunha; Belotti

We say: Sampdoria 0-2 Como

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