Samp sign off season at Marassi with loss; Juve confirmed as title winners

Sampdoria lost 2-0 to Napoli this evening, a pair of decisive moments of quality in the second half proving the difference between the sides.

Maurizio Sarri’s team needed a miracle to steal the Scudetto from under Juventus’ nose, but it wasn’t to be and tonight’s results confirm their second-place finish.

As expected, the visitors dominated possession, but the Blucerchiati looked comfortable and kept their shape well for much of the game. Samp were able to string some nice moves together going forward, but in truth didn’t properly threaten Pepe Reina’s goal.

Dries Mertens thought he had broken the deadlock in the sixth minute, controlling and finishing a knock-down in the six-yard box, but after consultation with the VAR he was adjudged to have been in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

Napoli created plenty of chances throughout the first half but came up against a worthy adversary in Vid Belec, a last-minute replacement for Emiliano Viviano who was injured in the warm-up.

The Slovenian was having a fine debut, pulling off several impressive saves, in particular against Lorenzo Insigne from a couple of yards out in the 63rd minute.

Clearly it needed something special to beat Belec and the moment came in the 72nd minute when Arkadiusz Milik received the ball on the edge of the area, turned and thrashed the ball into the top corner.

The goal took the wind out of Sampdoria’s sails and ten minutes later Raul Albiol rose highest on a corner to head into the back of the net, doubling Napoli’s lead.

Qualification for Europe is now an impossibility, but that disappointment shouldn’t overshadow what has been a terrific season for Marco Giampaolo’s team, who have punched way above their weight. The players deserved their applause from the Marassi faithful after the final whistle and have a chance next Sunday away against SPAL to end the campaign on a positive note.

Sampdoria 0-2 Napoli (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Milik 72, Albiol 81.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Belec; Bereszynski, Andersen, Ferrari, Regini (Strinic, 81); Praet, Torreira, Linetty; Ramírez; Caprari (Zapata, 70), Kownacki (Alvarez, 87).
Subs not used: Tozzo, Sala, Stijepovic, Verre, Silvestre, Capezzi.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Napoli (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Allan (Rog, 82), Jorginho, Zielinski; Callejon (Hamsik, 67), Mertens (Milik, 71), Insigne.
Subs not used: Rafael, Sepe, Maggio, Leandrinho, Milic, Ghoulam, Diawara, Tonelli.
Coach: Sarri.

Referee: Claudio Gavillucci.
Assistants: Alberto Tegoni, Alfonso Marrazzo.
Fourth official: Antonio Giua.
VAR: Davide Massa, Stefano Alassio.

Yellow cards: Milik 73, Hamsik 86, Ramirez 86, Linetty 90.

Additional time: 1+6 minutes.