Super Samp clinch comeback victory: Zapata, Caprari and Linetty stun Atalanta

Sampdoria produced a stunning second-half display to turn what seemed like a sure-fire defeat into a morale-boosting victory this afternoon against Atalanta.

As poor and listless as the Blucerchiati were in the first 45, they looked like a completely different outfit after the interval, full of energy and positive ideas.

Marco Giampaolo must take his fair share of the credit, as his half-time changes swapping Gaston Ramirez and Valerio Verre with Gianluca Caprari and Karol Linetty respectively provided drive and creativity. Indeed, as the icing on the cake for the head coach, both of the latter scored during the comeback.

It was a completely different story at the start, however, and the points seemed bound for Bergamo. Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta had three chances around the ten-minute mark, Christian Puggioni pulling out great saves on two and the third going narrowly wide.

Doria weren’t at the races at all and Atalanta capitalised ten minutes later, when Bryan Cristante stole through the centre of our defence and nodded home. The visitors had more chances to extend their lead and, in truth, 1-0 flattered Giampaolo’s men at the break.

There must have been stern words said in the changing room because Samp came out determined to put things right. On the week marking the anniversary of Paolo Mantovani’s death, the legendary president would certainly have been proud of this performance.

Duvan Zapata restored parity in the 56^th minute, nodding home from close range after Fabio Quagliarella had picked him out with a lobbed cross.

Suddenly the momentum was flooding the other way and four minutes later, Ivan Strinic clipped a cross into the penalty area that substitute Caprari only had to guide home on the dive. Cue an explosion from a bouncing Marassi.

Fellow half-time sub Linetty completed the comeback in the eighth minute – and in sumptuous style. The Polish wizard danced into the area, effortlessly shifting his weight to elude his marker, and smashed a shot inside the far post.

Atalanta tried to get back into the game during the remaining twenty minutes, but either they couldn’t hit the target or they found Puggioni in an unmovable mood. On the stroke of full-time, the No.1 produced three excellent quick-fire saves to maintain the two-goal cushion.

Based on the second half, Sampdoria fully deserved the three points, which lifts them onto 14 for the season, and will look to continue that performance for the visit of Crotone next week.

Sampdoria 3-1 Atalanta (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Cristante 21, Zapata 56, Caprari 60, Linetty 68.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Regini, Strinic; Praet, Torreira, Verre (Linetty, 45); Ramírez (Caprari, 45); Quagliarella, Zapata (Kownacki, 87).
Subs not used: Krapikas, Tozzo, Andersen, Sala, Djuricic, Alvarez, Ferrari, Murru.
Head coach: Giampaolo.

Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Berisha; Masiello, Caldara, Palomino; Hateboer, De Roon (Gomez, 60), Freuler, Spinazzola; Cristante; Ilicic (Vido, 72), Petagna (Cornelius, 67).
Subs not used: Rossi, Gollini, Orsolini, Gosens, Castagne, Kurtic, Mancini, Haas, Bastoni.
Head coach: Gasperini.

Referee: Maurizio Mariani.
Assistant referees: Ciro Carbone and Valentino Fiorito.
Fourth official: Eugenio Abbattista.
VAR: Fabio Maresca.
VAR assistant: Ivano Pezzuto.

Yellow cards: Freuler 41, Silvestre 44, Caprari 60, Hateboer 75, Regini 80, Cristante 90+2.

Additional time: 0+3 minutes.