The woodwork leaves Samp frustrated. Goalless in Verona

Sampdoria came away from the Bentegodi with a point but plenty to rue after a number of spurned chances against Fabio Pecchia’s side.

As revealed on Samp TV, Marco Giampaolo made a host of changes, picking Bereszynski and Murru at full-back, while Linetty and Alvarez replaced Barreto and Ramirez in the middle of the park. Quagliarella was joined by Caprari in attack. The former Pescara man was the first Samp player to go close, testing Nicolas with a curling effort on 15 minutes.

Verona responded and Puggioni was called into action midway through the first half, making himself big to repel Valoti’s strike. Further efforts from Quagliarella (from distance) at one end and Verde (from close-range) at the other followed but the sides went in at the break with the score goalless.

Giampaolo wasted little time in mixing things up, replacing Quagliarella and Alvarez with Zapata and Ramirez after just seven minutes of the second period. Colombian Zapata had the chance to made an immediate impact yet failed to properly connect with Caprari’s pinpoint cross onto his head. Puggioni was on his toes to head clear under pressure from Pazzini, while goalmouth clearances from Heurtaux suggested it wasn’t to be Samp’s night.

Romulo might have won it for the hosts 12 minutes from time but he could only find the side-netting after Puggioni had saved Bessa’s powerful effort. The Blucerchiati, meanwhile, went closer still, Zapata’s header from Murru’s cross deflecting off Caracciolo and agonisingly striking the post.

Hellas Verona 0-0 Sampdoria

Hellas Verona (4-2-3-1): Nicolas; Bearzotti, Heurtaux, Caracciolo, Romulo; Fossati (Buchel 87), B. Zuculini; Verde, Bessa, Valoti (Zaccagni 80), Pazzini (Kean 76).
Subs not used: Silvestri, Coppola, Laner, Kean, Cerci, Zaccagni, Lee, Tupta, Kambulla, Stefanec.
Coach: Pecchia.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Regini, Murru; Praet, Torreira, Linetty (Verre 90+2); Alvarez (Ramirez 52); Quagliarella (Zapata 52), Caprari.
Subs not used: Hutvagner, Tozzo, Andersen, Sala, Barreto, Ferrari, Strinic, Capezzi, Kownacki.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Referee: Manganiello.
Assistants: Prenna & Bindoni.
Fourth official: Chiffi.
VAR: Giacomelli.
VAR assistant: Valeriani.
Booked: Caprari 20, Zuculini 32 , Valoti 72, 90+5.
Added time: 0+4 minutes.