Sampdoria vs Cagliari preview - Eder back for Sampdoria

Posted Friday, March 06, 2015 by PA

Sampdoria will be bolstered by the return of team's leading scorer Citadin Eder for the home match against relegation-threatened Cagliari.

The Brazilian striker, who has scored eight goals and set up three more in 21 league appearances for Samp, missed Sunday's 2-1 triumph at Atalanta through suspension.

Eder is set to start against Cagliari as Samp look to pick up where they left off at Atalanta in this weekend's Serie A match at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

The result in Bergamo halted a four-match winless streak for the Blucerchiati and lifted Samp to sixth place.

"Against Cagliari, we need to play as we did in Bergamo," Mihajlovic told the Italian press.

"It's crucial that we take three points this weekend in order to remain high up in the standings and more so, considering that we will be playing three of our next four games away from home.

"We respect Cagliari, but we are better than them. However, if we have the wrong approach to the game we can lose.

"Cagliari will come here desperate to win and knowing that a defeat could put them closer to Serie B."

Samp are unbeaten at home this season and take on a Cagliari side that is winless since January 24. Gianfranco Zola's men have collected one point since then.

Last weekend's 2-1 home loss to Hellas Verona was their fourth defeat in five league games and left the Sardinians in 18th place, three points adrift of safety.

"I'm not thinking about resigning," Zola said. "I'm not happy with the results and we need to find a way to come out of this situation.

"I knew when I took over that this was going to be a difficult job.

"Having gone through a good spell after a difficult start to the season, we have returned to suffer.

"It's now when the players need to show their determination."

The visitors are without pivotal midfielders Daniele Conti and Joao Pedro, both suspended this weekend.

Samp welcome back midfield pair midfielder Pedro Obiang and Roberto Soriano from suspension.