Football Data stat pack ahead of Sampdoria v Fiorentina

Sampdoria, along with Roma, are the side which has scored the most goals via substitutes in Serie A this term. The Blucerchiati have struck nine times off the bench, courtesy of Patrik Schick (6) and Bruno Fernandes (3).

Sampdoria have found the net with the fewest number of goalscorers in Serie A this season. Just half a dozen players have got their name on the scoresheet, namely Edgar Barreto, Bruno Fernandes, Luis Muriel, Denis Praet, Fabio Quagliarella and Schick.

Schick has made more substitute appearances than anyone else in the Italian top flight this term. His number has come up 18 times, the same as Udinese’s Stipe Perica.

The Blucerchiati are on fine form, having claimed 20 points from their last nine league games. They have won six, drawn two and lost only once in that time, 1-0 at home to Juventus on 19 March.

Sampdoria v Fiorentina is a key battle for eighth place, an important league position ahead of next season. The top eight sides in Serie A this term will be handed a bye in the third round of the Coppa Italia and will begin their campaign at the last-16 stage.

Besides the usual suspects set to face their former employers (Angelo Palombo, Quagliarella and Emiliano Viviano for Samp), this fixture will also see the return of man who spent 12 years with the Blucerchiati. Alberto Marangon now works as team manager for Fiorentina but previously served as Sampdoria’s head of communications. Riccardo Garrone’s right-hand man worked for the club between 2002 and 2014, with a season at Atalanta in 2005/06. He returns to Genoa to face his old club for the first time.

Gonzalo Rodriguez is set to make his 200th appearance for Fiorentina. He has played 155 times in Serie A, 12 in the Coppa Italia and 32 in Europe for the Viola, scoring 24 goals. He made his debut for the club in a 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Novara on 18 August 2012.

Fiorentina are unbeaten in five league games, winning three and drawing two. The Tuscan side’s last reverse was a 2-1 loss at AC Milan on 19 February. They are one result away from matching their best sequence in the league this season. They recorded three victories and three draws between Weeks 8 and 13.

Fiorentina have been miserly at the back of late. It’s 365 minutes since the Viola last conceded, as Andrea Belotti scored in a 2-2 draw at home to Torino on 27 February. Their current run includes the remaining five minutes of that match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, plus four straight clean sheets (0-0 at Atalanta and 1-0 wins at home to Cagliari, away at Crotone and home to Bologna). It’s 239 minutes since their backline was last breached on their travels, with Gerard Deulofeu scoring at San Siro.