Muriel cancels out Bernardeschi opener to earn Samp draw in Florence

Marco Giampaolo’s Sampdoria side held Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday evening as a Luis Muriel header cancelled out Federico Bernardeschi’s first-half strike.

It means Doria have secured seven points from a run of four tough games against Genoa, Juventus, Inter and now Fiorentina, leaving them on 15 points for the season.

With Giampaolo having named the same starting eleven that beat Inter last time out, the two sides traded half chances in the opening minutes as Muriel and Fabio Quagliarella fired off target before Gonzalo Rodriguez lashed a fierce effort past the post.

Fiorentina were pressing Samp high up the pitch, with Giampaolo’s men having to content themselves with playing on the break. Yet the chances continued to flow for the Blucerchiati, Muriel blazing over after Bruno Fernandes had slipped him in on the left-hand side of the box.

The home side began to turn the screw as the first half wore on, with Nikola Kalinic buzzing ominously around the Samp box. Yet despite all Fiorentina’s attractive football, their opener was a clumsy affair. Bernardeschi whipped in a cross from the right, Astori lunging in front of Christian Puggioni only for both men to miss the ball completely – the latter could only watch it bobble into the back of the net.

Giampaolo freshened his side up at half time, sending on Dennis Praet in place of Karol Linetty. Samp were showing no negative effects of going behind and called Ciprian Tatarusanu into action on a couple of occasions early on in the second half.

Doria’s efforts were rewarded on 57 minutes. Bruno Fernandes played it out wide to Vasco Regini, who crossed in for Muriel to guide a brilliant header in at the near post. Samp were level at 1-1 and there was everything to play for at the Franchi.

The belief now coursing through the team, Bruno Fernandes was thwarted first by Tatarusanu and then by his own hesitancy after Muriel had played him in.

Fiorentina were starting to gather their bearings and Samp had Puggioni to thank as the veteran goalkeeper produced a series of stunning saves, most notably in tipping over Kalinic’s header.

There were hearts in mouths on the Sampdoria bench soon afterwards, Gonzalo Rodriguez sending a free header wide when it seemed easier to score – though the offside flag was up regardless.

It was the Franchi’s turn to gasp seconds later as Praet had a chance to win it at the death, but Tatarusanu stood firm to keep the scores level at 1-1. The final whistle came soon afterwards, leaving Sampdoria to reflect on a job well done.

Fiorentina 1-1 Sampdoria (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Bernardeschi 37; Muriel 57.

Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Tomovic, G. Rodriguez, Astori, Milic (Vecino 87); Badelj (C. Sanchez 71), B. Valero; Tello (Chiesa 65), Ilicic, Bernardeschi; Kalinic.
Subs not used: Lezzerini, Dragowski, De Mario, Zarate, M. Olivera, Salcedo, Cristoforo, Babacar.
Coach: Paulo Sousa.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Sala (Pereira 71), Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto, Torreira, Linetty (Praet HT); Fernandes; Muriel (Budimir 83), Quagliarella.
Subs not used: Krapikas, Tozzo, Dodo, Eramo, Alvarez, Schick, Krajnc, Cigarini, Djuricic.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Referee: Rizzoli.
Assistants: Di Fiore, La Rocca.
Fourth official: De Meo.
Additional assistants: Di Bello, Minelli.

Yellow cards: G. Rodriguez 45, Fernandes 55, Milic 61, Badelj 71, Pereira 90+2.
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.