Expectant AC Milan await high-flying Sampdoria at the San Siro

Sampdoria (a fantastic 3/1 with Coral to take all three points) journey to the San Siro having fallen to fifth spot in Serie A. Now seven points behind Lazio, who sit third and currently hold the last Champions League place, the Blucerchiati have much ground to make up.

Hosts AC Milan, meanwhile, will enter this clash optimistically having won two league games on the trot, and are odds-on at 10/11 to make it three in a row for the first time this term.

A draw is priced at 12/5 but would realistically help neither team, especially as the Rossoneri eye a Europa League place. Six behind Napoli, the San Siro side cannot afford to drift any further if they are to realise what, until their recent rampant run, appeared to be unlikely European ambition.

Speaking ahead of the duel, Milan manager and legend Filippo Inzaghi stated: “I hope we can repay the trust of our fans from here until the end. It’s hard to accept that this team is not fighting for the Scudetto but it has been a peculiar year. I believe that this club will soon return where we all expect it to be.”

Atletico Madrid-owned attacker Alessio Cerci struck first last time out and is a fantastic 13/2 to do so again, while fellow loan star and dangerman Mattia Destro is 5/1 to grab the last goal.

Meanwhile, Milan’s leading mischief maker Jeremy Menez has been on target 16 times this season and, after hitting three in his past two appearances, is a superb 6/1 to bag a brace or better, or 6/5 to torment Samp anytime.

The Blucerchiati have beaten the Rossoneri just once in their last eight attempts across all competitions, but do boast one of the meanest defences in Italy, which makes the Genoese team 10/3 to keep a clean sheet on their travels.

In attack, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men have been far less inspiring, scoring just 37 in Serie A, less than all their immediate top six rivals bar Torino.

So, Brazil-born Italy international Eder is 7/1 to help Samp improve their goal difference by netting the opener, while attacking partners Samuel Eto’o and Luis Muriel are both a brilliant 9/4 in the anytime market.