Barreto and Quagliarella fire Samp to 2-0 win over Verona

Sampdoria secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Verona at Marassi on Sunday to keep their Europa League dreams alive for another week.

The first clear-cut opportunity of the match for Samp arrived on eight minutes. Gianluca Caprari cut the ball back from the right-hand byline for Karol Linetty, who connected well but fired his shot straight at Andrade Nicolas. Minutes afterwards, the Hellas goalkeeper was called into further action to keep out a powerful Fabio Quagliarella shot as Samp’s dominance grew.

If these were half chances, Samp saw a real gilt-edged sitter go begging around the 15-minute mark. Caprari did well to beat his man on the left, barrel into the box and cross for Quagliarella, who must have watched in disbelief as his header was cleared off the line, onto the post and away by Jagos Vukovic.

Duvan Zapata was next to have a sight of goal, but this time Nicolas rushed out to smother the Colombian’s shot. It was good goalkeeping from the Hellas man to make up for his initial error in handing the ball back to Samp.

Marco Giampaolo would have been disappointed that his team failed to make the breakthrough before half time, but he had to wait just five minutes for the opener once play resumed after the interval. Picking up the ball on the left side of the box, Caprari lofted in a perfect cross for the unlikely Edgar Barreto, who rose highest to head into the net for 1-0.

Zapata had a decent chance to make it 2-0 straight afterwards as he burst forward at the head of a Doria break. The Colombian saw Nicolas race off his line early, but the attempted lob had too much on it and sailed comfortably over the bar.

It might have made for a nervy final period, but Samp found their breathing space on 85 minutes after Dawid Kownacki – on in place of Zapata – was brought down in the box. Up stepped Quagliarella to stroke the ball home and complete a convincing 2-0 win for the Blucerchiati.

The result means Doria stay in sixth on 41 points, three ahead of AC Milan.

Sampdoria 2-0 Hellas Verona (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Barreto 50, Quagliarella 85.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Viviano; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Ferrari, Murru; Barreto (Verre 86), Torreira, Linetty; Caprari (Alvarez 72); Quagliarella, Zapata (Kownacki 59).
Subs not used: Krapikas, Tozzo, Andersen, Sala, Tomic, Strinic, Regini, Capezzi.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Hellas Verona (4-4-2): Nicolas; Romulo, Caracciolo, Vukovic, Fares; Matos, Valoti, Buchel (Felicioli 83), Aarons (Verde 59); Kean, Petkovic (Calvano 66).
Subs not used: Silvestri, Coppola, Verde, Fossati, Zuculini, Lee, Calvano, Baldor, Bearzotti, Souprayen, Heurtaux.
Coach: Fabbio Pecchia.

Referee: Pairetto.
Assistants: Ranghetti, Santoro.
Fourth official: Fourneau.
VAR: Pasqua, Marrazzo.

Yellow cards: Bereszynski 20, Fares 58.

Added time: 0 + 4 minutes.