Sampdoria suffered a cruel exit from the Europa League on Thursday as they tasted a 2-1 defeat to Dutch giants PSV in Genoa. Not that the Blucerchiati had taken Europe's second-tier club competition with utmost seriousness, but they would have liked to prolong their European adventure for a while.
Which means that Domenico Di Carlo's side will be keen to return to Europe next season and for that they need to step up their game. Samp are currently in eighth place in Serie A with 20 points from 14 matches, just three off a Europa League place, and gained an encouraging result last weekend when they held league leaders Milan to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Interestingly, Sampdoria's home and away record in the Italian top flight this campaign are identical - two wins, four draws and one loss. But Doria will be favourites on Sunday against Bari, who are languishing at the foot of the table and are now one of the favourites to slip to the Italian second division.
Coppa Triumph Encouragement
There is no doubt who have been the worst team so far in the Italian top flight. Stationed at the foot of the table having scored just 10 points from 14 matches, Bari are struggling and are suffering from the 'Second Season Syndrome'.
However, in midweek Giampiero Ventura's wretched side discerned some light at the end of the tunnel when they hammered Livorno 4-1 in the fourth round of the Coppa Italia. Granted, Livorno are a Serie B team but that large-margin victory should inject a healthy dose of confidence in the Galletti.
Bari, though, have a poor record on the road as they have yet to register a victory away from the Stadio San Nicola and have lost four matches in the league on their travels.
TEAM NEWS
Sampdoria
Lucchini, Zauri, Semioli, Padalino, Obiang and Pozzi are injured and will miss the encounter with Bari. Cassano remains out of the squad.
Bari
Salvatore Masiello, Castillo, Barreto, Ghezzal and Kutuzov are injured. Parisi is suspended.
Prediction
Sampdoria have had mixed form since Antonio Cassano was ostracised from the squad and were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday. Samp are looking far from confident in their game but they should still muster a win against Bari.
Sampdoria 2-0 Bari 
