Correa and Eder score consolation goals as Sampdoria proved unable to cope with Napoli

Vincenzo Montella’s Sampdoria put in a committed performance against Napoli that was ultimately undone by a host of defensive errors, with the league-leaders running out 4-2 winners.

Doria gave themselves a mountain to climb early on after Gonzalo Higuain pounced on an errant Edgar Barreto back-pass and smashed it past Emiliano Viviano inside ten minutes. The Paraguayan had an afternoon to forget as eight minutes later he tripped Raul Albiol in the box and referee Daniele Orsato pointed immediately to the spot. Lorenzo Insigne stepped up to slot the penalty away and double Napoli’s advantage.

Samp gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Carlos Carbonero burst down the right and centred for an oncoming Joaquin Correa – via a clever dummy from Eder – to hit home for his second goal in as many games.

The Blucerchiati came into the second half full of belief and organisation. Unfortunately, a clumsy challenge from Mattia Cassani on Insigne earned the veteran full-back a second yellow card and Samp were down to ten men. The Azzurri made immediate use of the advantage, Marek Hamsik poking home after a mazy run for 3-1.

Montella rang the changes sending on Ricky Alvarez and Dodo for their debuts. For a while it looked as if that had done the trick after Eder reduced the deficit to one again, glancing it in with his head from an Alvarez corner in the 73rd minute.

The comeback was once again short-lived as Dries Mertens struck a fierce shot across Viviano and into the net seven minutes later.

In truth, Montella’s men were playing catch-up from the start and Napoli were deserved winners.

Sampdoria 2-4 Napoli (HT: 1-2)

Scorers: Higuaín 9, Insigne 18, Correa 45, Hamsik 60, Eder 73, Mertens 80.

Sampdoria (4-2-3-1): Viviano; Cassani, Moisander, Zukanovic, Regini; Barreto (Alvarez 55), Fernando; Carbonero, Correa (Ivan 80), Eder; Cassano (Dodo 65).
Subs not used: Puggioni, Brignoli, Rodriguez, Pereira, Palombo, Krsticic, Muriel, Silvestre.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

Napoli (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam (Strinic 71); Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon (El Kaddouri 84), Higuaín, Insigne (Mertens 75).
Subs not used: Rafael, Gabriel, Valdifiori, Maggio, D. López, Chiriches, Gabbiadini, Chalobah, Luperto.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio).
Assistants: Marco Barbirati (Ferrara) and Andrea Marzaloni (Rimini).
Fourth official: Lorenzo Manganelli (Valdarno).
Additional assistants: Antonio Damato (Barletta) and Daniele (Rome 1).

Yellow cards: Jorginho 13, Cassani 27, Fernando 40.
Red cards: Cassani 59

Additional time: 1+4 minutes.

Attendance: Season-ticket holders 19,114 (total gate receipts €152,366), matchday tickets 3521 (total gate receipts €115,343).

Pitch surface: Passable condition.