Sampdoria masters of their own downfall, Udinese inflict first defeat
Sampdoria failed to build on their impressive start, ending their unbeaten run in the process as Udinese sealed three valuable points in their fight to beat the drop.
Marco Giampaolo stuck with the same side that beat AC Milan but it was the hosts who made the better start. De Paul and Maxi Lopez had early efforts albeit without success. Doria responded on 12 minutes yet former Udinese man Zapata’s progress was checked by Nuytinck. The Blucerchiati grew into the half but just when it looked like Samp were on top, Udinese took the lead. With 18 minutes to play in the first period, Puggioni came out recklessly, caught Maxi Lopez and the referee pointed to the spot. De Paul made no mistake from 12 yards.
Ten minutes before the break, Barreto left his side down to ten men on his 300th appearance in Italy. Already booked for dissent, the Paraguayan was shown a second yellow for a foul on Lasagna. Despite being a man down, Samp showed spirit, Gaston Ramirez firing a warning shot to Bizzarri from Torreira’s free-kick.
Puggioni atoned for his earlier misdemeanour with a wonder save to deny De Paul nine minutes after the restart. Giampaolo then took off Ramirez, replacing him with Linetty for more steel in the middle. Quagliarella went close but could only find the side-netting on 64 minutes, before Udinese were awarded another spot-kick midway through the second half. Mr Fabbri penalised Torreira’s challenge on substitute Fofana in the area and Maxi Lopez made it 2-0 from 12 yards.
Giampaolo threw on Kownacki for his Serie A debut in place of Quagliarella and swapped Zapata for Caprari with time ticking down but the scoreline only got heavier. Maxi Lopez put some gloss on the result with a fine finish, before the referee recorded a hat-trick of penalties, Fofana beating Puggioni after the Frenchman was fouled by Strinic. Back to the drawing board for Doria.
Udinese 4-0 Sampdoria (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: De Paul 27 (pen); Lopez 66 (pen), 85, Fofana 90+5 (pen).
Udinese (4-3-3): Bizzarri; Stryger, Angella, Nuytinck, Samir (Adnan 71); Barak (Fofana 64), Behrami (Balic 69), Jankto; De Paul, Lopez, Lasagna.
Subs not used: Scuffet, Borsellini, Matos, Bajic, Ingelsson, Perica, Bochniewicz, Ewandro, Pezzella.
Coach: Delneri.
Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni, Bereszynski, Silvestre, Ferrari, Strinic; Barreto, Torreira, Praet; Ramirez (Linetty 55); Quagliarella (Kownacki 73), Zapata (Caprari 70).
Subs not used: Krapikas, Tozzo, Andersen, Sala, Alvarez, Regini, Verre, Capezzi, Murru.
Coach: Giampaolo.
Referee: Fabbri.
Assistants: Alassio & Vivenzi.
Fourth official: Rapuano.
VAR: Tagliavento.
VAR assistant: Giua.
Booked: Barak 14, Barreto 29, 31, De Paul 32, Fofana 76, Balic 83.
Sent off: Barreto 31.
Added time: 2+4 minutes.
