Chievo find Samp in a giving mood and pick up the win

In Sampdoria’s seventeenth league game of the season, they travelled to take on Chievo Verona, and while we should all look to foster that Christmas spirit at this time of year, perhaps a Serie A match is not the time to be handing out gifts.

Unfortunately for Marco Giampaolo and his men, the home side were on their toes and ready to capitalise, bagging two goals courtesy of errors from the Blucerchiati.

The boss had to make changes for the game and fielded a team with Angelo Palombo partnering Milan Skriniar in the centre of defence, while Ricky Alvarez was positioned in support of the front two: Fabio Quagliarella and Luis Muriel.

However, within ten minutes, all that pre-match planning had to be re-thought as Chievo were gifted an opening goal by the Samp defence.

Riccardo Meggiorini was played in over the top and faced a foot race with Vasco Regini. The trouble was exacerbated when Christian Puggioni rushed out of his goal, leading to a mix up between the two Samp players, who ended up running into one another. The Chievo forward stayed calm and stuck the ball away to give his side the lead.

Doria took their time to respond and Muriel eventually tested the Chievo goalkeeper, but Stefano Sorrentino did well to save. Meanwhile Chievo continued to carry a threat, with Puggioni forced into action to deny Jonathan de Guzman and Valter Birsa.

Meggiorini continued to trouble the Doria back-line and won a penalty towards the end of the half, after he was brought down by Puggioni in the area. The Samp keeper was booked for the foul but quickly dusted himself down to face the spot pick; he went the right way but could not get a strong enough hand on Sergio Pellissier’s effort, which made it 2-0 to Chievo.

Samp plugged away in the second period, as they tried to find a way back into the game. Ricky Alvarez and Dennis Praet both registered attempts on goal, but were unable to halve the deficit.

As the game drew to a close, substitute Patrik Schick bagged a late consolation, in a repeat performance of the defeat against Lazio. The Czech forward found some space at the back post to score with a header, but once again the youngster’s contribution was not to prove decisive and Samp suffered their second straight defeat.

ChievoVerona 2-1 Sampdoria (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: Meggiorini 9, Pellissier 42 (pen); Schick 90+4.

ChievoVerona (4-3-1-2): Sorrentino; Frey, Dainelli, Gamberini (Spolli 46), Cacciatore; Castro (N. Rigoni 56), Radovanovic, De Guzman; Birsa (Izco 83); Meggiorini, Pellissier.
Subs not used: Seculin, Confente, Cesar, Parigini, Bastien, F. Costa, Inglese, Floro Flores, Jallow.
Coach: Rolando Maran.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Sala, Palombo, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto (Djuricic 77), Torreira, Praet; Alvarez (Fernandes 58); Quagliarella (Schick 54) Muriel.
Subs not used: Krapikas, Tozzo, Eramo, Pereira, Krajnc, Linetty, Pavlovic, Cigarini, Budimir.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Referee: Mariani (Aprilia).
Assistants: Paganessi (Bergamo) and Del Giovane (Albano Laziale).
Fourth official: Di Vuolo (Castellammare di Stabia).
Additional assistants: Calvarese (Teramo) and Pezzuto (Lecce).
Yellow cards: Regini 18, Sala 41, Spolli 61.
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.