100 in Serie A for Okaka. From the Marassi to... the Marassi
Stefano Okaka is set to make his 100th appearance in Serie A, following his debut in the competition in a 1-1 draw for Roma away at Sampdoria on 18 December 2005. He has represented Roma, Bari, Parma and Sampdoria in the top flight.
200 games for Italian sides for Silvestre, 100 for Muriel
Matias Silvestre could make his 200th appearance in Italy, having turned out for Catania, Palermo, Inter, AC Milan and Sampdoria. Silvestre has made 179 appearances in Serie A, 11 in the Coppa Italia and nine in European competition. The Argentine made his debut on 27 February 2008 in Catania's 1-1 draw at home to AC Milan. Luis Muriel meantime has collected 99 games during spells with Lecce, Udinese and Sampdoria: the Colombian's record comprises 91 matches in Serie A, four in the Coppa Italia and four in Europe. He made his debut in a 2-0 defeat for Lecce at Palermo on 27 October 2011.
March smiles on Mihajlovic
March has proved a lucky month for Sinisa Mihajlovic as a coach. He averages 2 points-per-game, thanks to 12 wins, four draws and four defeats from his 20 matches in the year's third month. Specifically, during his time as Sampdoria coach, the Serbian has won seven, drawn one (a goalless draw at home to Fiorentina last year) and lost only once (a 3-0 defeat at Atalanta last season) from nine matches in March.
Samp, one of Serie A's two sides still unbeaten at home this season
Sampdoria are - along with Juventus - one of only two teams in Italy's top flight to still be unbeaten at home this season. The Blucerchiati have registered six wins and seven draws from their 13 league games at the Marassi, plus a further two victories in the Coppa Italia. Their last defeat in front of their own supporters came on 11 May 2014, in a 5-2 reverse to Napoli in the league. Samp have only gone the whole season unbeaten at home in Serie A three times in 57 attempts: 1960/61 (4th place finish), 1989/90 (5th place) and 2009/10 (4th place and qualification for the Champions League play-off round).
Samp haven't conceded in 254 minutes
The side from Genoa haven't conceded in Serie A for 254 minutes, since Stendardo's goal in the 16th minute of a 2-1 win at Atalanta on 1 March. The rest of the run includes the remaining 74 minutes of that match, plus 2-0 wins at home to Cagliari and away to Roma.
Blucerchiati more points in the second half than anyone else
Sampdoria have earned more points in the second halves of matches than any other side in Serie A this term. They have collected 11 points after the break in their 27 games so far.
Samp haven't scored against Inter at the Marassi for 288 minutes
The Blucerchiati haven't found the net against the Nerazzurri at the Stadio Ferraris since a Pazzini strike in the 72nd minute of a 1-0 victory on 26 September 2009. The remaining 18 minutes of that match plus three straight blanks in consecutive home losses to Inter (0-2 in 2010/11 and 2011/12, 0-4 in 2013/14) brings the total to 288 minutes since Samp last breached Inter's rearguard.
Sampdoria have only win against Inter in their last 21
Tonight's hosts have only beaten the Nerazzurri once in their last 21 meetings in Serie A both home and away, the aforementioned 1-0 victory on 26 September 2009. Inter have won 11 and drew nine of the remaining 20 matches.
Match-up between two teams with the most red cards against
Sampdoria and Inter are two of five sides to have benefited most from sendings off in the league this season. Six opposition players have been dismissed against them, the same number involving matches with Roma, Palermo and Sassuolo.
Guarin ever present
The Colombian has featured more than other player - along with Icardi - in all competitions (22 games) since Mancini took over. Guarin's 1,892 minutes put him out in front however. Mazzarri used Guarin on eight occasions for a total of 457 minutes.
Ex-Blucerchiati man Campagnaro set to make 200th Serie A appearance
Hugo Campagnaro is set to play for the 200th time in Serie A, against one his former sides. The Argentine made his top flight bow in a 2-0 win for Piacenza over Udinese on 22 September 2002. He has since gone on to represent Sampdoria, Napoli and now Inter.
Mancini won only other meeting. Similar career paths
Roberto Mancini won his only meeting against Sinisa Mihajlovic as a coach. It finished 2-0 to Inter against Sampdoria on 21 January 2015 in the Coppa Italia. The pair managed Inter together - Mancini as head coach, Sinisa as his assistant - in 2006/07 and 2007/08, winning two league titles together. They were also team-mates at Sampdoria from 1994 to 1997 and at Lazio from 1998 to 2000.
Mihajlovic, negative record against Inter, always conceded against the Nerazzurri
Sinisa Mihajlovic has played the Nerazzurri eight times as a coach, winning one, drawing one and losing six. Inter have found the net in all eight of those matches, hitting a total of 16 goals. Lest we forget, Sinisa Mihajlovic had a great career with Inter. First he served as assistant to Roberto Mancini in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons. Before that he played for the Nerazzurri for two seasons between 2004 and 2006, making 43 appearances and scoring six goals. He won the Coppa Italia twice, the Super Cup and the Scudetto, which was awarded to Inter by the authorities.
Mancini undefeated in 13 competitive meetings
Roberto Mancini has never lost as a coach to his former club Sampdoria. The Nerazzurri coach boasts eight wins and five draws. Mancini holds the appearance record for the Blucherchiati in Serie A (424) and is also their all-time leading scorer in the top flight (132). Mancini also holds the Sampdoria appearance record for the Coppa Italia (98 matches) and Cup Winners' Cup (30, the same number as Vierchowod).
