Samp unable to find breakthrough against Sassuolo as it ends goalless at Marassi

Sampdoria maintained their status as Italy’s best defence but weren’t able to add three points to it as Sassuolo held on to earn a draw at the Stadio Ferraris. While there were chances for both sides in the end it was the rearguards that won the day.

The result nonetheless sees Samp take another small step forward and move into fifth place on 15 points.

Marco Giampaolo picked Gaston Ramirez in the hole behind the front two while Edgar Barreto got the nod ahead of Karol Linetty in midfield.

In the 7th minute Bergamo match-winner Lorenzo Tonelli – again partnering Joachim Andersen at centre-back – got in Khouma Babacar’s way as the former Fiorentina man prepared to strike, with the first shot of the match sailing high and over.

The flow of the game was broken up by frequent fouls and Doria found it hard to carve out openings. It wasn’t until the 26th minute that Fabio Quagliarella managed to pick out Ramirez, whose scuffed effort jolted the home crowd towards the edges of their seats.

A few minutes later there was another gasp of anticipation as Gregoire Defrel collected Nicola Murru’s ball in the centre of the area but was unable to apply the killer touch against his former side.

Samp were granted a reprieve in the 35th minute when Domenico Berardi’s curling effort came back off the post, while six minutes later Barreto could only direct his effort at Andrea Consigli from a good position.

Defrel then saw his powerful strike hit Giangiacomo Magnani as the sides headed in for the interval with the game still goalless.

The second period opened with a quiet 15-minute spell at the end of which Giampaolo decided to throw on Gianluca Caprari in place of Defrel. After Andersen headed over, the coach made another substitution, with Ramirez going off and Riccardo Saponara making his return after a month and a half out injured.

The No.5 had a sight on goal almost immediately but his volley from Quagliarella’s pass was off target.

Five minutes from time Mehdi Bourabia responded for the visitors with a low drive that shaved the outside of the post, before Giampaolo made a last roll of the dice with the introduction of Dawid Kownacki, but the result didn’t change.

The Blucerchiati thus had to settle for a single point but remain Serie A’s meanest defence (just four conceded all season) ahead of Sunday’s visit to AC Milan.

Sampdoria 0-0 Sassuolo

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Audero; Bereszynski, Tonelli, Andersen, Murru; Barreto, Ekdal, Praet; Ramírez (Saponara 75); Defrel (Caprari 62), Quagliarella (Kownacki 87).
Subs not used: Rafael, Belec, Vieira, Sala, Jankto, Colley, Linetty, Tavares, Ferrari.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Sassuolo (3-4-3): Consigli; Marlon, Magnani, G. Ferrari; Lirola, Bourabia, Magnanelli, Di Francesco (Sensi 71); Berardi, Babacar (Matri 82), Djuricic (Adjapong 65).
Subs not used: Satalino, Pegolo, Lemos, Peluso, Sernicola, Trotta, Dell’Orco, Locatelli, Brignola.
Coach: De Zerbi.

Referee: Fourneau (Roma 1).
Assistants: Vuoto (Livorno) and Gori (Arezzo).
Fourth official: Pezzuto (Lecce).
VAR: Valeri (Roma 2).
VAR assistant: De Meo (Foggia).

Booked: Marlon 5, Andersen 20, Di Francesco 32, Barreto 54, Berardi 63.
Added time: 2 + 4 minutes.
Attendance: 17,057 season tickets (€170,851), individual tickets 2,007 (€30,075).
Pitch: good condition.