The 2017/18 Serie A season already looks as though it could be one of most competitive in recent years. Juventus have run away with the title in the last six consecutive campaigns but they are currently 3^rd after nine games. One of the teams above them, Inter, are in action on Tuesday as they play host to a Sampdoria side who are in sixth with a game-in-hand on four of the five teams above them in the table. The hosts are unbeaten so far and sit 2^nd behind Napoli, the only other side in the division still yet to be beaten.

STATS

• Inter have started the season in blistering form with seven wins and two draws from their opening nine fixtures, meaning they are just four points from picking up maximum points with 23 from 27. One of their two draws disappointingly came at the hands of Bologna while the other was a very good goalless one away at their direct title rivals, Napoli in their last match. No side in the Italian top flight has conceded more than the five that Inter have conceded.
• Sampdoria have also started the new campaign in good form and are in 6^th place after picking up five wins, two draws and one loss in their first eight games. They were particularly impressive in their last fixture as they beat Crotone 5-0 courtesy of five different goal scorers. Their only defeat was a crushing 4-0 loss against Udinese but they have responded very strongly with two wins.
• After a brilliant season last term, Mauro Icardi has started this one in the same form and with nine goals, only Paulo Dybala and Ciro Immobile have more Serie A goals.
• One player that is refusing to slow down even at the age of 34 is Fabio Quagliarella and he has already scored five goals this season making him Sampdoria’s leading scorer.

HEAD TO HEAD

Despite what you would expect, Inter have struggled to beat Sampdoria in the last few meetings as they have won just once in the last five match-ups. They lost both fixtures last season as Quaqliarella managed to score the winner in both the home and away ties for Sampdoria. In the last seven meetings between the sides, there have been just three first-half goals and Sampdoria have scored just one of them against Inter since 2009.

INTER NEWS

A win for Inter will see them go top of the league at until Napoli play on Wednesday and with very few injuries, they have a great chance to do that. Marcelo Brozovic is still out and he will be missed but they have enough quality to cover the Croatian’s vacancy.

Latest matches: Inter Milan

21.10.2017	Seri	SSC Napoli	Inter Milan	0:0	D
15.10.2017	Seri	Inter Milan	AC Milan	3:2	W
01.10.2017	Seri	Benevento Calcio	Inter Milan	1:2	W
24.09.2017	Seri	Inter Milan	Genoa FC	1:0	W
19.09.2017	Seri	Bologna FC	Inter Milan	1:1	D

SAMPDORIA NEWS

If Sampdoria avoid defeat at the San Siro, they will be in a great position to move into the top four with their game-in-hand. With no injury worries ahead of the match, they are able to come away from Milan with at least a point, it won’t be easy though.

Latest matches: Sampdoria Genoa

21.10.2017	Seri	Sampdoria Genoa	FC Crotone	5:0	W
15.10.2017	Seri	Sampdoria Genoa	Atalanta Bergamasca	3:1	W
30.09.2017	Seri	Udinese Calcio	Sampdoria Genoa	4:0	L
24.09.2017	Seri	Sampdoria Genoa	AC Milan	2:0	W
20.09.2017	Seri	Hellas Verona	Sampdoria Genoa	0:0	D

SUMMARY

There aren’t many sides who go into matches at the San Siro as favourites against Inter and while Sampdoria are a strong side, they aren’t expected to leave with anything on Tuesday night. Inter are favourites to pick up all three points but they must be careful of their opponents’ power on the counter-attack as it could prove their downfall in this one.