Doria boast best defence in Serie A

Sampdoria’s strong start to the season has been built on solid defensive foundations with the Blucerchiati conceding just four goals in their first seven games – fewer than any other Serie A side.

The result is even more impressive considering that Marco Giampaolo’s men have faced two of the divisions top-scoring sides in Napoli (13) and Fiorentina (14).

After excelling in Serie B last term, Emil Audero has begun his first full campaign in the top flight with three clean sheets. The young keeper has shown an old head on young shoulders – bouncing back from his mistake on SPAL’s opener on Monday to deny Andrea Petagna a possible equaliser in the second half – but the credit must go equally to the rest of the Doria rearguard, as well as of course to the mastermind behind it all, Giampaolo himself.

Joachim Andersen, 22, has been growing in stature by the game and has yet to miss a single minute this term while fellow centre-backs Lorenzo Tonelli and Omar Colley have quickly slotted into the coach’s playing system.

Nicola Murru and Bartosz Bereszynski have impressed in the full-back berths while Jacopo Sala came in and did well against Fiorentina.

However, Samp’s defensive solidity is a team effort and the midfielders – Albin Ekdal especially – and forwards have been pulling their weight tracking back and providing more cover than last season.

At this stage of the campaign in 2017/18, Doria had conceded nine goals – more than double the current total – while in Giampaolo’s first season in charge, 2016/17, the team had let in ten. In both cases, Samp’s defensive record was nonetheless among the top ten in Serie A.

In Europe’s top leagues only Manchester City and Liverpool have let in fewer goals so far (three apiece). Atletico Madrid and Villarreal (four goals conceded) boast the best records in La Liga while Mainz lead the way in the Bundesliga (four).