Udinese midfielder Bruno Fernandes. (Photo : Getty Images)
Lowly clubs UC Sampdoria (8-14-9, 33 points) and Udinese Calcio (9-15-7, 34 points) are set to meet at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 10th, Sunday as the 2015-2016 Serie A season gradually winds down to a close.
Both teams are coming off impressive upset games over top contending squads this season and so they have widened their lead above the bottom three relegation teams with only seven matchdays left in their current campaigns.
In their most recent match, Sampdoria survived having a one-man disadvantage and forced fourth-running team Fiorentina into a 1-1 draw on the road at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last Sunday, as per SkySports.
The hosts actually drew first blood in the contest as Slovenian midfielder Josip Ilicic pierced goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano's net at the 24th minute.
La Samp managed to equalize the game at the 39th courtesy of goal from Argentine winger Ricky Alvarez as the teams settled for the tie at the halftime interval.
Head coach Vincenzo Montella's side had an unfortunate break in the second half when Argentine attacker Joaquín Correa was booked for a second yellow card and sent off with 19 minutes left in the game.
Viola failed to capitalize on the 10-man Sampdoria side as the visitors salvaged a much-needed draw and point in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, Udinese pulled off a shocking 3-1 victory over second-placed team Napoli at the Dacia Arena also last Sunday, via SB Nation.
Bianconeri Friuliani's Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored a brace to lead head coach Luigi De Canio's boys against this season's top contenders. Fernandes first netted a goal via a penalty kick at the 14th minute then scored again at the stroke of halftime to give his side a 2-1 lead at the break.
Serie A topscorer Gonzalo Higuaín scored at the 24th minute to give Partenopei their consolation goal.
French striker Cyril Thereau sealed the win at the 57th to complete the Zebrette's three-goal haul.
The match also saw the ugly sending off of Higuaín at the 75th which has resulted in the Argentine striker's four-match ban in the Italian top flight competitions.
The predicted result is a 2-0 victory for Udinese.
Sampdoria starting lineup (3-4-2-1 formation): Viviano; Diakite, Ranocchia, Cassani; De Silvestri, Fernando, Krsticic, Dodo; Alvarez, Soriano; Quagliarella
Udinese starting lineup (3-5-1-1 formation): Karnezis; Heurtaux, Danilo, Felipe; Widmer, Agyemang-Badu, Kuzmanovic, Fernandes, Armero; Thereau; Zapata
