Sampdoria and Juventus will be eliminated
Our favourite statistic from this season's Europa League is the incredible one that the quartet of Italian representatives - Juventus, Palermo, Sampdoria and Napoli - have between them mustered just two victories in 16 group games, a "feat" that leaves all four currently missing out on qualification.
If Sampdoria and Juventus are to progress to the knockout rounds, both desperately need to rediscover the knack of winning in Europe and they need to do so this evening in a double-header being shown live on ESPN. Failure could see both embarrassingly eliminated with a match to spare.
The first encounter pits Sampdoria against PSV at 6pm and anything other than three points will end the Blucerchiati's continental campaign if Metalist Kharkiv ([1.19]) overcome Debrecen as expected.
Things could have panned out so differently for Domenico Di Carlo's side had they held on in Eindhoven on the opening matchday when outplayed but Balazs Dzsudzsak's last-gasp leveller left them on the backfoot.
Sampdoria have improved after initially slumping following Antonio Cassano's removal from first-team activity, holding leaders AC Milan at the weekend yet PSV still need a point to secure their spot and head into their final fixture against Metalist Kharkiv in top spot, leading us to fancy the draw at [3.4].
At 8.05pm, Juventus are away to surprise Group A table-toppers Lech Poznan, the Polish champions who are stuck in the bottom half domestically. Worryingly for the Bianconeri, Lech are in better form than they were when they drew 3-3 in Turin, having lost just only one in eight.
So while Luigi Del Neri's men are unbeaten in 13 themselves, drawing eight of those notably, it's hard to envisage them getting the win they need. It's [3.4] that they will draw again, a result that will almost certainly end signal their exit, though the best option is perhaps to lay the visitors at [2.24].
Think we're wrong? Expect an Italian renaissance tonight? Share your views below...
Published: 1 Dec 2010
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