Sampdoria will host Ascoli at the Luigi Ferraris on Thursday (October 20) afternoon in the Round of 32 of the Coppa Italia.
The hosts have endured an abysmal Serie A campaign, prompting the dismissal of manager Marco Giampaolo and will now hope to find better luck in the domestic cup. Sampdoria beat Serie B side Reggina 1-0 in the previous round, with Abdelhamid Sabiri scoring the winner from spot midway through the second half.
Sampdoria are four-time winners of the Coppa Italia and made it to the Round of 16 last season, losing to Juventus.
Ascoli, meanwhile, have struggled in the second tier after a decent start to their campaign. They beat Venezia 3-2 in the first round of the Coppa Italia, via goals from Anthony Fontana, Marcello Falzerano and Dario Saric, who has left the club to join Palermo.
The visitors have made it further in the cup competition this season than they did in the previous two. Ascoli will now look to test their mettle against top-flight opposition.
Sampdoria vs Ascoli Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Sampdoria vs Ascoli Prediction
Sampdoria have lost five of their last six games and are winless in their last ten. They are winless in their last six home games and will be desperate to end that streak.
Ascoli beat Bari 2-0 in their last game to end a five-game winless streak. The gulf in class and quality between the two teams should, however, see the hosts come out trumps.
Prediction: Sampdoria 2-1 Ascoli
Sampdoria vs Ascoli Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Sampdoria
Tip 2 - Both teams to score: Yes (Both teams have scored in five of the hosts' last seven games.)
Tip 3 - Sampdoria to concede first: Yes (The hosts have conceded first in four of their last five games.)