View from the Opposition: The quickfire scouting report on Sampdoria

Dario Freccero from Genoa-based daily newspaper Il Secolo XIX tells us how Samp have changed since the summer transfer window - and how Marco Giampaolo will approach Saturday night's match against Roma at Marassi...

How have Samp changed compared with last season and what are the targets for this campaign?

“Samp's signings late in the window took the team from looking like a weakened outfit to a competitive squad with options all over the park. The Blucerchiati do now have less overall quality following the departures of Milan Skriniar at the back, Bruno Fernandes in midfield and. above all, Luis Muriel and Patrik Schick in attack - but they've now got greater power up front with the arrivals of Duvan Zapata and Dawid Kownacki.

They've also bolstered the squad by bringing in Gianluca Caprari up top, Gaston Ramirez in the hole and Gian Marco Ferrari and Ivan Strinic at the back. Samp operated well in the window and above all they followed the coach Giampaolo's instructions given that he wanted more decent options all over the pitch.

The Blucerchiati management try not to build up expectation too much but I think Sampdoria have the best squad outside of the 'Big Six', which means they can challenge for a European place."

What side do you think Giampaolo will name on Saturday and what will the shape look like?

"He will definitely go with his usual 4-3-1-2 and I don't think the personnel will be overly different from the players that featured in the opening two league games of the season, besides perhaps a couple of the new signings coming in.

That means Christian Puggioni in goal, a back four with a possible debut for Strinic at left-back, Vasco Regini and Matias Silvestre in the middle and Jacopo Sala on the right. Lucas Torreira will sit in midfield with Edgar Barreto and Dennis Praet either side of him, while Ramirez will operate behind Fabio Quagliarella and either Zapata or Caprari."

Who will Samp's key man be against Roma?

“I'd say Gaston Ramirez who, despite not having 90 minutes in him, has already had a big impact as seen from the games against Benevento and Fiorentina. He provided the assist for Quagliarella's goal on the opening weekend of the season and Caprari's strike at the Stadio Franchi also came from his creative spark. He has given Samp more of a cutting edge and I think he's the team's main matchwinner so far."

If you could take one Roma player to Samp, who would you have?

"The Blucerchiati always struggle against roaming midfielders like Radja Nainggolan, plus he's often hurt Samp in the past."