Lecce look to put another nail in Sampdoria's Serie A coffin on Sunday, as they aim for three precious points to boost their own survival hopes at Stadio Via del Mare.
Despite defeat to Napoli last time out - their sixth straight loss - the Salentini remain clear of the drop zone; Samp's dramatic last-gasp loss against Cremonese left them rock-bottom.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having established themselves in a mid-table position midway through their latest top-flight comeback campaign, Lecce's recent results have now left their future in flux - with nine games to go, the Puglian side sit only five points above Serie A's bottom three.
Slipping down to 16th place in the standings, Marco Baroni's men have lost six games in a row over the past two months, with the latest coming at home to southern rivals Napoli.
Though Federico Di Francesco hauled them level with the league leaders during the second half, Antonino Gallo's unfortunate own goal left Lecce empty-handed at the final whistle, despite matching their Campanian counterparts throughout a close-fought contest.
Di Francesco's strike may have ended a goalless run which had extended to more than 500 minutes - it was their first goal since February - but a lack of firepower up front still leaves the Giallorossi in danger of an immediate return to Serie B.
If they are to finally snap their winless streak this weekend, they will have to overcome Sampdoria for a second time this season, following a 2-0 victory in November's reverse fixture. Doing so would break new ground - Lecce have never beaten the Blucerchiati twice in the same Serie A season.
© Reuters
While they were beaten in Genoa when these teams last met, Sampdoria have recorded seven wins and one draw from their last eight top-flight trips to Lecce and remain undefeated there since January 1991.
However, such precedent will offer little hope for fans of Serie A's crisis club, having seen their side suffer perhaps the cruellest blow yet in a surely doomed battle against the drop.
Last week's battle at the bottom against fellow strugglers Cremonese had been billed as a must-win for either side if they were to mount an improbable late surge out of the bottom three.
Despite leading 2-1 heading into the final five minutes - thanks to Mehdi Leris and Sam Lammers, who finally scored his first goal for the club - Samp somehow stumbled to a 3-2 defeat at Marassi, capped by Leonardo Sernicola's stoppage-time stunner.
The Blucerchiati's 20th loss of the league season - at least three more than any other team - leaves head coach Dejan Stankovic contemplating a relegation on his previously promising CV, and with financial problems also engulfing the club, a return to Serie A could take some time.
Ahead of their trip down south this weekend, Sampdoria have lost each of their last three away fixtures, conceding eight goals in the process, so expectations are relatively low.
Team News
© Reuters
After dropping top scorer Gabriel Strefezza last week, Marco Baroni may be inclined to bring the Brazilian winger back into his starting XI on Sunday, to add more goal threat against one of Serie A's most vulnerable back lines.
French midfielder Alexis Blin returns from suspension and should replace Youssef Maleh or Joan Gonzalez, while Assan Ceesay will again compete with Lorenzo Colombo to lead Lecce's three-man attack.
Once again, defensive duo Marin Pongracic and Kastriot Dermaku are the hosts' only men absent due to injury.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, have Jeison Murillo back from a ban this weekend, but the Colombian is probably bound for the bench at Via del Mare.
Fellow defender Koray Gunter may miss out again due to a muscular problem, while in goal, Nicola Ravaglia continues to deputise for injured first-choice Emil Audero.
Samp striker Manolo Gabbiadini has scored six Serie A goals this season, his best tally for three years, but has never produced a single goal or assist in three previous league games against Lecce. Despite Sam Lammers ending his drought against Cremonese, Gabbiadini starts up front, most likely supported by Filip Djuricic and Michael Cuisance.
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Gallo; Gonzalez, Hjulmand, Blin; Strefezza, Colombo, Di Francesco
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Ravaglia; Zanoli, Nuytinck, Amione; Leris, Winks, Rincon, Augello; Cuisance, Djuricic; Gabbiadini
We say: Lecce 0-1 Sampdoria
Lecce and Sampdoria have had fewer shots than any other Serie A sides this season, but at least Samp have started to find the net regularly in recent weeks. They can therefore edge a high-stakes encounter; consigning their hosts to a seventh straight defeat and keeping their own paper-thin survival dreams alive.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
