WOMEN, AC MILAN v SAMPDORIA: MATCH PREVIEW

The Rossonere are back at the PUMA House of Football as they host Sampdoria in a vital clash. AC Milan are looking to get back to winning ways on matchday 8 of Women's Serie A. Ahead of the game at 18:00 CET on Saturday, let's have a closer look at the fixture with our Match Preview:

LATEST FROM THE PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
It's a tricky period for the Rossonere, who aren't as high as they'd like in the table. But there's plenty of desire to get back on track. With a win against Sampdoria, Ganz's side would draw closer to the leading pack given the six-pointers elsewhere. The Rossonere's head coach is the only one suspended for this weekend's game after he received a red card in AC Milan v Sassuolo. The squad is at full strength and hungry for what would be a vital victory. Against the Blucerchiate, we could see the same 4-2-3-1 as last weekend, with an attacking midfield trio of Dompig, Asllani and Bergamaschi in behind the lone striker, Stašková.

The Rossonere squad list: Babb, Copetti, Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Bergamaschi, Fusetti, Guagni, Piga, Swaby, Thrige; Adami, Cernoia, Grimshaw, Mascarello, Soffia, Vigilucci; Arrigoni, Asllani, Dompig, Laurent, Marinelli, Stašková.

"We started well against Sassuolo but dropped our concentration levels after our captain scored," said Maurizio Ganz. "We need to be more patient and avoid launching the ball upfield. We've not lost our enthusiasm; there are eleven more games, in which we can do well. We must always believe in ourselves and give it everything, trying to better ourselves."

LATEST FROM SAMPDORIA
Following a difficult summer, Sampdoria have taken six points from their first seven league games this season, following wins against Napoli and Pomigliano. Last weekend, however, Samp played out of their skins against a heavy favourites Fiorentina, showing they're certainly not to be underestimated. In addition, the Blucerchiate have won three of their last four away games in the league and didn't concede a single goal in either of the last two (the aforementioned games against Napoli and Pomigliano). We should also see an appearance for Nora Heroum, who made 35 league appearances for the Rossonere in two seasons at the Club, between 2018 and 2020.

PRE-MATCH
AC Milan have a 100% record against Sampdoria in Women's Serie A with a record of four wins from four games and ten goals to Samp's one. The Rossonere only have a better streak against Pink Bari amongst the teams they've only ever beaten in the league. The game at the PUMA House of Football is the meeting between the two sides with the highest percentage of duels won in Europe's Top-5 leagues (AC Milan 81%, Sampdoria 80%). No team has scored more goals from dead balls than these two teams (five, level with Inter and Roma) and Samp have scored their highest percentage of goals from the penalty spot (40%). The Ligurian outfit often bring good numbers for Kosovare Asllani (first brace in Serie A and the only team against whom the Swede has scored both home and away), Gloria Marinelli (her most recent multiple-goal haul in March 2022) and Greta Adami, who scored her first AC Milan league goal in a game against Sampdoria.

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
In Italy, AC Milan v Sampdoria will be shown live on DAZN on Saturday 18 November at 18:00 CET, on official Rossoneri social media channels and also on the AC Milan Official App.

LATEST FROM WOMEN'S SERIE A
Claudio Giuseppe Allegretta will referee AC Milan v Sampdoria. He will have Sbardella and Pandolfo as his assistants. Senes is the match's fourth official.

The match between AC Milan and Sampdoria will be one of the two matches scheduled for Saturday 18 November for the 8th matchday of Women's Serie A. Preceding the fixture at the PUMA House of Football will be Fiorentina v Como Women at 15:00. This is the schedule for Sunday 19 November: Sassuolo v Roma (12:30), Juventus v Inter (16:00) and Pomigliano v Napoli (18:00).

Here are the current standings: Roma 21; Juventus 18; Fiorentina 16; Como Women and Inter 13; AC Milan 8; Sampdoria 6; Sassuolo 5; Pomigliano 1; Napoli 0.

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