Tough pill to swallow for creative Samp, Bacca hands AC Milan victory

For the second time in five days, Sampdoria were dealt a harsh blow as despite outplaying AC Milan for much of the game, Carlos Bacca’s late strike sent the points back to Lombardy.

Marco Giampaolo’s men look organised, lively and full of ideas but perhaps lacked the killer instinct to finish off their moves. As soon as a natural-born finisher such as Carlos Bacca entered the fray in the second half, the visitors carried an added edge and ultimately that made the difference.

Former Blucerchiati coach Vincenzo Montella was greeted with warm applause by the Marassi crowd and his charges looked to have started the better side. Nevertheless, Samp had the first good chance of the game when Lucas Torreira stung Gianluigi Donnarumma’s gloves from way out in the 11th minute.

In a lively first half that had chances for both sides, Doria were looking marginally the more threatening outfit. As ever, Luis Muriel was creating multiple problems for the Rossoneri defence with his direct runs and pace forcing Milan’s young keeper into a number of saves as the first half ended goalless.

The second half continued where the first left off with Sampdoria probing in attack. Bruno Fernandes replaced Dennis Praet in the 69th minute and soon afterwards a shot from the Portuguese midfielder caused a mix-up in the Rossoneri six-yard box. The ball fell loose to Edgar Barreto, who put the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. Replays showed that Manuel Locatelli was actually playing him on.

Carlos Bacca was making his presence felt after replacing the industrious Gianluca Lapadula, requiring Emiliano Viviano to turn his sharp shot onto the post in the 74th minute. Bacca’s fellow Colombian Muriel also hit the post six minutes later and then Samp’s star striker looked to have gone one better in the 85th minute when he struck past Donnarumma, but Massimilian Irrati ruled it out again, this time for handball.

That proved to be an ill omen as Milan marched immediately up the other end of the pitch and scored. Suso capitalised on Milan Skriniar’s error and played in Bacca for a simple finish.

Giampaolo tried to claw back a point from the game, sending on Patrik Schick for the final assault but it was all in vain and once again the locals left Marassi with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Sampdoria 0-1 AC Milan (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Bacca 80.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Viviano; Sala (Pereira 31), Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto (Schick 88), Torreira, Linetty; Praet (Fernandes 69); Quagliarella, Muriel.
Subs not used: Puggioni, Amuzie, Dodô, Eramo, Krajnc, Palombo, Cigarini, Djuricic, Budimir.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

AC Milan (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, Calabria; Sosa (Locatelli 57), Montolivo, Bonaventura; Suso (G. Gómez 90+1), Lapadula (Bacca 64), Niang.
Subs not used: Gabriel, Plizzari, Ely, L. Adriano, Honda, Poli, Vangioni, Pasalic.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

Referee: Massimiliano Irrati.
Assistant referees: Lorenzo Manganelli and Salvatore Longo.
Fourth official: Giacomo Paganessi.
Additional assistants: Daniele Orsato and Carmine Russo.

Yellow cards: Lapadula 39, Bonaventura 47, Pereira 66, Muriel 80, Donnarumma 90+5.
Additional time: 1+4 minutes.