Sunday opponent: Sampdoria.

The most characteristic intellectual of Sampdoria culture is Paolo Villaggio. Paolo filled our evenings with his grotesque and irreverent films. With his characters, who have become icons of several generations of Italians such as Fantozzi and Fracchia. The misfortune of these characters we laughed at was a j’accuse powerful against modern society that Paolo despised for often cheating competitiveness and servility, having an alternative idea of society, which had to be founded on solidarity, brotherhood, the emancipation of talent and freedom even in the workplace.

Ranieri fielded the 442, based mainly on defense and counterattack. They are a typical team of Ranieri with good technical quality (especially with Candreva and Quagliarella) and with many young people who play the game at their best with run, humility and spirit of sacrifice, as Ranieri prefers (like Damsgaard, Jankto and Verre).

They attack mainly with wings (Damsgaard (right foot) or Candreva (both) and Jankto (left foot), good at assisting. Damsgaard is better at dribbling and assisting, while Jankto is very good especially in pressing, while Candreva is the strongest in the offensive phase, but is less strong in the defensive phase. The assist can also be good for the winger of the other wing. Anyway, we must especially expect a defense and counter attack from them, with long balls for Quagliarella Verre (both but mainly right-footed, our old acquaintance) is a high quality player, very good in the last pass, but also dangerous with insertions and shooting from outside.

Quagliarella (right) is the most dangerous player in attack, good at getting the team up on the building (mainly with the foul), dangerous with his back to goal and on crosses where he tries to lurk at the near post. Ramirez (left) could play in place of Verre, who is better at assist and with more experience.

In the defensive phase, they tend to create density both at the latitudinal level, closing in their own half, and at the longitudinal level, covering above all a band, which is why side changes can be decisive. The two central defenders are not excellent: in the defensive phase Yoshida (but also Colley) is a bit uncertain, while Tonelli makes too many foul.

They are a good team and we also have the absence of Spinazzola: it is a difficult match. A good game of Karsdorp and Brunetto will be needed both in the defensive phase and (especially) in the offensive phase, but in general all our players must play well. The opponent is tough, but we can and must win. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi