Sampdoria vs Cagliari prebiew - No respite for Donadoni boys
Posted Wednesday, February 02, 2011 by PA
Cagliari coach Roberto Donadoni has warned his side must not be lured into a false sense of security when they travel to Genoa to take on underachieving Sampdoria.
The hosts are aiming to end a three-match winless run in Serie A and welcome a Cagliari side that have won three of their last four games, including last weekend's 2-1 triumph over Bari.
"Sampdoria have some problems but, with a team like theirs, they are designed to solve those and give a different complexion to their season," Donadoni said.
"We will do our best and play like Cagliari - with respect and without fear."
Tempering their optimism is the departure of the team's top scorer Alessandro Matri to Juventus.
The striker joined the Turin giants on a six-month loan deal from Cagliari on Monday, hours before the transfer deadline.
Matri's departure is a blow for Cagliari fans with the 26-year-old having found the back of the net 11 times this season.
However, Donadoni believes his team can still succeed without Matri.
"Matri is a great player," Donadoni said. "He is a striker that makes the difference.
"However, we were not Matri dependent. We have also done well without him."
Sampdoria, meanwhile, crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Napoli on Sunday, the latest setback for the players and fans.
The Genoa club sold the team's top scorer Giampaolo Pazzini to Inter Milan last week having previously parted with Antonio Cassano.
Samp have won just once in their last six league games and have not scored in their last three.
They lie 11th in Serie A, two points behind Cagliari.
Sampdoria's once-promising season is a distant memory for club midfielder Angelo Palombo.
Palombo said: "I don't recognise this team despite the heavy defeat we have suffered in Naples.
"We have ups and downs, we play a good game and we follow that up with a terrible game.
"We need to have our heads examined because otherwise we risk facing more ugly results this season."
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