Daniele Montevago scored a brace, and could have scored two or three more, as Sampdoria defeated Napoli 3-1, putting the Azzurrini in a difficult position in the battle for survival.
Lineup
Nicolò Frustalupi made two changes to the squad he fielded in the loss to Hellas Verona. Davide Acampa returned to the starting XI, playing over Enrico Giannini on the left side of the midfield. Meanwhile, with Gennaro Iaccarino not in the squad, Bilel Sahli dropped into trequartista and Antonio Pesce started up top.
(3-4-2-1) Boffelli; Hysaj, Barba, Obaretin; Acampa, Gioielli, Alastuey, Marchisano; Sahli, Spavone; Pesce
First Half
Napoli earned the first chance of the match, after Nicolò Uberti handled the ball at the edge of the Sampdoria area. Jorge Alastuey’s direct free kick was blocked by the wall before Sampdoria cleared the ball for a corner kick. Alessandro Spavone played a short set piece before crossing the ball to Antonio Pesce at the second post. The striker headed the ball back into the danger area where Francesco Gioielli won the header but didn’t get much on it, allowing for an easy save from Elia Tantalocchi.
Sampdoria responded with a chance of their own three minutes later, when Uberti’s cross was blocked for a corner kick. Francesco Migliardi’s inswinging cross was flicked on Mateus Cecchini at the first post. Daniele Montevago was first to the ball and headed it in from close range.
The visitors were not discouraged after conceding the early goal and equalized midway through the half from another set piece. Spavone played a short corner to Alastuey in the area. The Spaniard miscued on the first-time shot but the ball fell to Gioielli at the spot. The midfielder’s shot towards the bottom corner was well-stopped by Tantalocchi, but Bilel Sahli was quick to chase down the loose ball. He passed back to Pesce, whose cross was headed clear by Montevago, but only as far as Matteo Marchisano at the edge of the area. The right-sided midfielder controlled the ball, steadied himself and struck it sweetly into the top corner. Tantalocchi could do nothing but watch as the ball dipped into the back of the goal.
Motivated by the equalizer, Napoli nearly took the lead a minute later. Davide Acampa won the ball inside the Napoli half and carried it the length of the pitch, into the Sampdoria area. The left-sided midfielder cut in on his right before going for goal, but Tantalocchi stopped the low shot.
Aside from one chance, where an out-stretched Gioielli was unable to get a touch on Marchisano’s cross that flashed across the face of the goal, the balance of the half was all Sampdoria, led by their lethal No. 9. In the 27th minute, left-sided central defender Samuli Miettinen played a long ball forward towards Mihailo Ivanovic, who flicked a looping header towards the centre of the area. Benedetto Barba was slow to react to the second ball, allowing Montevago a free shot. The striker hit the ball with plenty of venom but it crashed off the upright and stayed out.
Montevago was foiled by the frame of the goal again five minutes before the break. Cecchini picked out Montevago at the second post with a cross from the right wing. The striker directed a header back across the face of the goal but it bounced off the far post. Simone Pozzato was first to the rebound but Boffelli reacted quickly to stop the shot from close range.
Montevago came close again a few minutes later, outmuscling Barba to recover the long ball in the Napoli area. The Sampdoria No. 9 had only Boffelli to beat but the keeper was quick off his line to make the save.
Sampdoria persisted and scored a deserved second goal one minute before the break. The Blucerchiati concluded a well-worked team move with Cecchini chipping the ball forward to Pozzatno. The trequartista played a quick give-and-go with Montevago at the edge of the Napoli area before firing a shot past Boffelli and into the bottom corner.
Second Half
The second half began the same way the first half ended, with Sampdoria scoring a goal that was nearly identical to their first. Ivanovic won a corner kick after his cross was blocked by Daniel Hysaj. Migliardi played another inswinging cross towards the first post and this time it was flicked on by Ivanovic. Once again Montevago was first to the ball and headed it in from close range.
Napoli nearly reduced the lead midway through the second half. Marchisano played an excellent, left-footed cross into the area with his weaker left boot. Gioielli stretch to win the header but the ball bounced off the bar and stayed out.
The Azzurrini came close again five minutes later. Cedrick Koffi pressed high to intercept Stefano Di Mario’s pass intended for Cecchini. The Substitute dribbled around Lorenzo Villa before directing a powerful strike towards the near post, but Tantalocchi was well-positioned to make the save.
Neither side created any quality chances after that, as Napoli suffered their second consecutive defeat. Fortunately for the Azzurrini, Atalanta lost 2-3 in their Matchday 28 make-up match against Milan on the 3rd of May. With Atalanta drawing Sassuolo 1-1, Napoli fell a point behind La Dea on 31 points, with both clubs in the relegation playoff positions. Meanwhile, with their win over Bologna, Cagliari moved seven points clear of the relegation zone, level with Milan, Hellas Verona and Bologna on 39 points.
