Despite going a goal down in the first half Sampdoria fought back to get a 2-1 victory thanks to a Quagliarella brace. Claudio Ranieri’s side were set up in a compact 4-4-2. They sat in a mid block, stayed compacted and covered space well, forcing Verona wide and then looked to press the wide areas in the middle third using the touchline as another defender. They looked to attack quickly and get to the final third as quickly as possible, looking to put balls over the top of put crosses in. Quagliarella and Gabbiadini showed some good linkup but often dropped quite deep and left Sampdoria lacking presence in the box. The winning goal came from a penalty, Sampdoria were quite dangerous from set pieces but overall were lucky to come away with all three points.
Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average, don’t follow up
Jakub Jankto
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Czech
- Age: 24
- Date of birth: 19/01/1996
- Current Club: Sampdoria
- Career: Udinese, Ascoli (L), Sampdoria
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Secondary Position: Left Midfield
- Preferred foot: Left
Jankto played on the left side of the midfield four for Sampdoria. He wasn’t the most elegant on the ball and his ball control could have been cleaner but he did well to progress the ball up the left side. He linked with Quagliarella, who dropped deep from striker, and his left back. He did well to play balls down the line, play inside passes and make underlapping runs.
He moved centrally a lot, when the ball was on the left he supported the attack through the middle and often operated in the half spaces, keeping the team compact rather than offering width. He would then look to make runs into the box. He worked hard to support counter attacks and counter press.
He had average pace and okay acceleration, he made good passing decisions which were well executed but could be been crisper. He didn’t cross much from open play but his corner and free kick deliveries were dangerous
Rating – B2
Ronaldo Vieira
Player Profile:
- Nationality: English
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 19/07/1998
- Current Club: Sampdoria
- Career: Benfica (Y), Leeds, Sampdoria
- Position: Defensive Midfield
- Secondary Position: Centre Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
The England U21 midfielder is a physical presence in midfield, he’s well built, was strong on the ball and used his body well to win the ball. He has good speed over short distances but is quite a heavy-footed runner and looked very tired before he was subbed off in the 61st minute.
On the ball he was calm but static and had conservative passing. At times he could have been more expansive and better weighted. He could have been more aware, at times turning into pressure and could have opened up his hips more.
Defensively the 5’10” midfielder pressed out of the block well and worked hard to recover his position. He did well to read play and made some good interceptions and professional fouls to stop counter attacks with good aggression.
Rating – B2
Fabio Depaoli
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Italian
- Age: 23
- Date of birth: 24/04/1997
- Current Club: Sampdoria
- Career: Chievo Verona, Sampdoria
- Position: Right Back
- Secondary Position: Right Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Playing as a right midfielder in this game, Depaoli looked uncomfortable in possession and was very static on the ball, looking to pass as early as possible. His passing technique wasn’t great but he did put a few good passes into the striker through gaps.
In the final third, he didn’t travel with the ball and rushed his first time crosses without setting himself right and didn’t offer much danger. He didn’t try to create space for a cross or to beat his man. He did however get the assist for the first goal with a medium length pass into the strikers feet in the box.
In defence, he at times dropped too deep from the midfield line, opening passing lanes to the wing for Verona. Sometimes he drops to create a back five but other times just took up the same space as the right back. In 1v1s he was passive and jockeyed but had mixed success, he did better when the attacker went towards the byline but allowed them inside too easily which led to the goal they conceded.
Rating – D
Emil Audero
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Italy
- Age: 23
- Date of birth: 18/01/1997
- Current Club: Juventus, Sampdoria
- Career: Sampdoria
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Preferred foot: Right
He wasn’t tested massively, his passing was mainly into the middle third with decent technique. He made some good saves from close range with strong hands and quick reactions. I thought his footwork could have been quicker at times to get across his goal. He made one unconvincing punch of a cross but reacted to the scramble well.
Rating – B2