Brescia Host Fellow Strugglers Sampdoria in Meeting of Serie B’s Fallen Giants

“We’re angry,” admitted Sampdoria president Matteo Manfredi this week when discussing his team’s dismal first half of the campaign.

It would not be a stretch to say that the overwhelming majority of Blucerchiati fans share those feelings, for watching Samp this season has been a chastening experience.

The Genoese club have already churned through two managers in six months, with Andrea Pirlo sacked in August and Andrea Sottil following him out of the door in mid-December, when Leonardo Semplici was handed the reins.

Under Semplici, Sampdoria have picked up creditable draws against third-placed Spezia and fourth-placed Cremonese but are yet to taste victory after drawing to Carrarese on Boxing Day and losing to high-flying Pisa before the break.

The latter result left the Blucerchiati 16th in Serie B, just two points clear of the relegation zone and yet somehow only seven points adrift of the last playoff spot.

Not that a belated push for promotion appears likely. They are winless since October 27 and have conceded the third-most goals in the division behind only Cittadella and Sudtirol.

Sampdoria are yet to make any signings in January, but have so far loaned out Antonino La Gumina to Cesena, Stefano Girelli and Simone Giordano to Salernitana and Mantova respectively.

Plainly, this was not where Sampdoria expected to be. The Blucerchiati forked out just over €6m on players this summer and made 15 signings overall, bringing in two of the division’s best strikers in the shape of Gennaro Tutino and Andrea Coda.

While the duo have combined for 10 goals this season, fellow summer signing Estanis Pedrola has made just eight appearances and started just once.

“The current situation is challenging, and results haven’t been forthcoming,” Manfredi told La Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

“At the start of the season, I stated our objective was to surpass the achievements of the previous season, and I take full responsibility for our failure to do so thus far.”

Brescia, Sampdoria’s opponents on Sunday, are in the midst of a difficult campaign themselves.

With 23 points in 20 games, the Rondinelle are just three clear of the Blucerchiati and winless since the reverse fixture on November 3.

Pierpaolo Bisoli replaced the sacked Rolando Maran last month, but he is yet to taste victory with the club he made 39 appearances for as a player under Carlo Mazzone.

On the flip-side, it is also true that Brescia are unbeaten in four matches under Bisoli and kept a clean sheet in their last two matches in 2024, some much needed respite for a defence that has conceded the fourth-highest number of goals in Serie B.

Bisoli will be forced to reshuffle the pack for Sampdoria’s visit on Sunday, with his Dimitri Bisoli, Andrea Cistana and Giacomo Olzer all suspended and striker Gennaro Borrelli an injury doubt.

The last time Brescia won a game without both Bisoli and Cistana was almost four years ago. Addressing their over-reliance on the pair will go some way towards ensuring a positive start to 2025.