Giampaolo: “Expecting a tough game against Reggina”

Sampdoria’s first competitive game of the season is drawing closer as they face Serie B side Reggina in the first round of the Coppa Italia on Friday at the Ferraris (kick-off at 21:15 CEST). Coach Marco Giampaolo is not anticipating an easy match, however. “I’m expecting a tough game. Reggina are not a weak side. This isn’t an amateur team but a Serie B club, with great players who have also played in Serie A.

“However, the lads have trained well over the last few weeks and I’m happy with how we’re doing as we come into this match. I’ve already seen the right attitude from the boys in our friendlies, but now we’re entering a really big tournament and we’re ready to go out there and play our game.”

The match will be refereed by Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi, the first female referee to join the Serie A officiating team. “If she has been chosen to officiate a big game, it means she has the quality to do so. She has definitely not been gifted anything.”