Prediction Spezia vs Sampdoria 2025/2026 – Betting Tips for the Coppa Italia on 18/08/2025

Preview: Coppa Italia opens with a tasty local clash

The Coppa Italia preliminary round serves up a familiar regional showdown as Spezia host Sampdoria at the Stadio Alberto Picco on 18 August 2025. The little ground in La Spezia, with a capacity of 10,336, will be the theatre for what promises to be a competitive start to the cup campaign. With referee Luca Zufferli appointed to take charge, both sides arrive with recent momentum and clear pride on the line; cup games at this stage often bring a blend of intensity and tactical caution, and this fixture looks no different.

Form, facts and what the numbers say

Spezia come into the tie off a mixed but resolute run of results. Their recent sequence reads L-D-W-W-W-L-L-W-D-D, amounting to four wins, three draws and three defeats in the latest ten outings listed — a group that includes a 3-2 play-off final defeat to Cremonese on 1 June where Salvatore Esposito stood out with the best player rating. Sampdoria’s recent pattern mirrors the competitive balance of Serie B fixtures: W-D-W-D-D-L-W-L-L-D, reflecting three wins, four draws and three losses, capped by a 2-0 victory over Salernitana on 15 June where Alex Ferrari was voted best on the night. The head-to-head edge in recent meetings also leans Spezia’s way; the last encounter in April finished 2-0 to the La Spezia side, a result that will not be forgotten in the dressing room.

The bookmakers give Spezia the slight advantage for the tie: home victory priced at 2.15 (implied probability roughly 46.5%), the draw at 3.20, and an away upset for Sampdoria quoted at 3.50. Those numbers underline a competitive match but one that tilts towards Spezia’s home comfort and recent successful outcomes against Sampdoria.

Tactical outlook and match-up feel

Expect both teams to respect each other. Cup football at this juncture often produces a measured tempo early on, with openings coming as one side commits for the win. The last meetings suggest Spezia can strike decisive blows, while Sampdoria’s string of low-scoring fixtures indicates they can be hard to break down. Home crowd, prior h2h success and the psychological edge of having edged past Sampdoria recently all favor the hosts.

Betting suggestion For a single focused market, the data supports backing Spezia in the 1X2 market. The combination of home advantage, the recent 2-0 h2h result in April, and the bookmakers’ pricing make Spezia to win the best-value selection for this Coppa Italia preliminary round tie.