MILAN: Serie A high-flyers Sampdoria reclaimed third spot yesterday thanks to a 3-1 home win over Fiorentina, while city rivals Genoa fought back to claim a precious 4-2 away win at Udinese.
Sampdoria went in for the half-time break 2-1 up after Angelo Palomba, from the penalty spot, and Luca Rizzo both opened their account for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side with Stefan Savic reducing the arrears for La Viola on the stroke of half-time.
Samp made sure of all three points in the 77th minute when Fiorentina forward David Pizarro lost possession in midfield and Eder pounced to beat fellow Brazilian Neto in the Fiorentina net.
Sampdoria’s fifth win means they replaced Napoli in third place and now trail leaders Juventus by six points, with Roma in second three points off the pace.
Mihajlovic told Sky Sport: “Very few people would have put us in third place after 10 games. The lads were great. From start to finish they played to win.”
Napoli, 2-0 winners over Roma on Saturday, sit in fourth place a point behind Sampdoria with Genoa moving up to a surprise fifth thanks to an entertaining comeback win at the Friuli Stadium.
Hosts Udinese got off the mark inside the opening minute when veteran striker Antonio Di Natale was sent through on goal to beat Mattia Perin in the Genoa net.
Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted he feared their midweek win over Juventus, which came days after a precious 2-1 win away to Chievo, had gone to his players’ heads.
“We didn’t start well at all. I thought perhaps the players’ minds were still on the win over Juve. Instead, we went on to produce a solid performance,” Gasperini told Sky. “Nine points in a week isn’t a bad return.”
Even Di Natale seemed surprised at how easy the hosts’ opener had come, but Genoa bounced back in impressive fashion.
Giovanni Marchese levelled with a great half-volley on 21 minutes and three minutes later Falque Iago restored the visitors’ lead.
Silvan Widmer pulled Udinese level four minutes before the break but Genoa were back in front when former Juventus and Milan reject Alessandro Matri struck 10 minutes after the restart. Juraj Kucka made sure of the points for Gasperini’s side three minutes from full-time when he beat Orestis Karnezis with a drive from outside the area.
Elsewhere, hosts Torino were held to a scoreless draw by Atalanta while Sassuolo’s recent resurgence was halted by the same scoreline away to basement side Chievo.
Today Verona are away to struggling Cesena while Lazio, unbeaten in their last five outings, could also clinch third spot with a win at home to Cagliari.AFP
