Samp put Cagliari to the sword at the Marassi

Sampdoria produced a scintillating display at the Marassi to dismantle Cagliari and take revenge for the dramatic 4-3 defeat in Sardinia when the two sides met earlier in the season.

The Blucerchiati were fast out of the traps and took an early lead when Jakub Jankto’s looping header found Manolo Gabbiadini in the six-yard box, with the Italian making no mistake to open the scoring in the 8th minute.

Claudio Ranieri’s charges doubled their lead five minutes before half-time when Federico Bonazzoli embarked on a mazy run and unleashed a low left-footed shot that found the bottom corner from outside the box. The 23-year-old is in fine form, having also netted against Udinese on Sunday.

Samp went in 2-0 up at the break, with Walter Zenga deciding to make a double half-time change in a bid to inspire a comeback, but it was to no avail. Just eight minutes into the second half, the hosts made sure of all three points in style by adding a third. Jankto was the assist-provider once again, as his lofted cross was met by Bonazzoli’s acrobatic karate-kick volley with the outside of his foot, giving Alessio Cragno no chance in the Cagliari goal.

That would prove to be the end of the scoring, as Samp moved up to 13th in the table and a huge nine points clear of the relegation zone. Next up for the Blucerchiati is a visit to Parma on Sunday afternoon.

Sampdoria 3-0 Cagliari
Scorers: Gabbiadini 8, Bonazzoli 40, Bonazzoli 53.
Sampdoria (4-4-2): Audero; Depaoli, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Linetty (Bereszynski 70), Thorsby, Ekdal, Jankto; Gabbiadini (Bertolacci 70), Bonazzoli (Quagliarella 70).
Subs not used: Seculin, Chabot, Ramirez, Askildsen, La Gumina, Maroni, Leris, Murru, D’Amico.
Coach: Ranieri.
Cagliari (3-5-2): Cragno; Walukiewicz (Farago 57), Pisacane, Carboni; Nandez, Birsa (Mattiello 78), Rog, Ionita (Pereiro 46), Lykogiannis; Ragatzu (Joao Pedro 46), Simeone (Paloschi 78).
Subs not used: Rafael, Ciocci, Klavan, Ceppitelli, Lombardi, Ladinetti.
Coach: Zenga.
Referee: Pairetto (Nichelino).
Assistants: Passeri (Gubbio) and Mastrodonato (Molfetta).
Fourth official: Marinelli (Tivoli).
VAR: Di Paolo (Avezzano).
AVAR: Cecconi (Empoli).
Yellow cards: Ionita 16, Rog 69.
Stoppage time: 0+2.
Pitch: Good condition.