Sampdoria host local rivals Genoa on Sunday hoping to continue their superb run in the league after claiming back-to-back wins against Atalanta and Lazio.
However, Genoa will be wishing to bounce back from their recent league defeat against Inter Milan, losing 2-0 to the Nerazzurri.
Match preview
Claudio Ranieri's men will no doubt be in high spirits as they prepare for their next league fixture, currently possessing a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, with the Blucerchiati gaining their latest win against Salernitana in the Coppa Italia.
Sampdoria won 1-0 against the Serie B side on Wednesday as Empoli loanee Antonino La Gumina scored the only goal of the game, with the winners set to face Genoa once again in the next stage of the cup.
However, it is their dominance in Serie A which has been particularly impressive - conjuring up a 3-1 victory against Atalanta in their previous league game in order to sit seventh in the table.
Fabio Quagliarella scored a superb opener in the match - claiming his fourth goal of the campaign, before missing a penalty just 30 minutes later.
A fine header by Morten Thorsby and a late goal by Jakub Jankto was enough to claim the three points, despite Atalanta receiving a penalty in the 80th minute.
Meanwhile, Genoa have been struggling at the start of the 2020-21 season, with Il Grifone claiming just one win so far and occupying 15th place in Serie A.
However, it is worth noting that Rolando Maran's team have played just four games this campaign, with Genoa forced to postpone their game against Torino earlier this month as a large number of staff and players tested positive for COVID-19.
Their latest league fixture, which resulted in a loss to Antonio Conte's Inter, included a brilliant opening goal by Romelu Lukaku and a simple header from Danilo D'Ambrosio.
However, Maran's side did manage a 2-1 win against Catanzaro in the third round of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, with Gianluca Scamacca scoring a brace.
Genoa last met Sampdoria in July earlier this year as Il Grifone claimed a 2-1 victory over their rivals.
Sampdoria Serie A form: WWWLL
Sampdoria form (all competitions): WWWWLL
Genoa Serie A form: LDLW
Genoa form (all competitions): WLDLW
Team News
After resting a large number of players for the cup game against Salernitana earlier this week, Ranieri is likely to bring some key players back in the starting XI for the derby on Sunday.
With Quagliarella in superb form this season, the Italian coach is likely to start the 37-year-old up front again, partnering with Gaston Ramirez.
Fortunately, Sampdoria do not have many injury concerns heading into this fixture, with Manolo Gabbiadini the only player set to miss this game, with the former Southampton man currently nursing a groin injury.
On the other hand, Genoa have had their fair share of absentees lately, with the majority of their squad missing in recent weeks due to an outbreak of the virus.
However, their supporters will be pleased to know that nearly all players will be fit and ready for Sunday's game, with the likes of Domenico Criscito having finally returned from quarantine. The captain started in their cup game on Wednesday and is likely to replace Edoardo Goldaniga who played in their 2-0 loss against Inter.
Scamacca should also start, coming in for Marko Pjaca who started in their previous league game, with the number nine scoring twice against Catanzaro midweek.
Petar Brlek and Darian Males are still undergoing quarantine measures, with Stefano Sturaro also out with a thigh injury.
Sampdoria possible starting lineup:
Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Tonelli, Augello; Jankto, Ekdal, Thorsby, Damsgaard; Quagliarella, Ramirez
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Perin; Masiello, Zapata, Criscito; Ghiglione, Lerager, Badelj, Zajc, Czyborra; Pandev, Scamacca
We say: Sampdoria 2-1 Genoa
Sampdoria have been particularly dangerous going forward in recent times, so expect them to score a few goals against Genoa at the weekend. However, the visitors will be up for a derby - and now the majority of their key players have returned, we expect this to be a close encounter between the two teams.
