Dugout Throwback: Sampdoria 1-0 Sevilla, 10 years on

Exactly 10 years ago today, Sampdoria hosted Sevilla for a decisive UEFA Cup match. It was the last game of the group stage – back in the day when five teams in each group played each other just once – and the Blucerchiati needed to beat Sevilla to leapfrog them in the Group C table and earn their place in the knockout stage.

Walter Mazzarri’s side had been unable to make the crucial breakthrough and were staring elimination in the face when, in the 75th minute, an unlikely hero appeared in the right place at the right time.

Argentine defender Jonathan Bottinelli, who made just 13 appearances in a six-month loan spell in Genoa, got his chest on the end of a free kick and beat Andres Palop. Sevilla, back-to-back winners in 2005/06 and 2006/07, were out and Samp were through.

Dugout takes us back to that 18 December 2008.