Sampdoria 2 – 0 Lazio Hightlights
Aug/100
Sampdoria 2-0 Lazio
Aug/100
After their heartbreaking Champions League elimination, Sampdoria started the campaign at the Marassi against Lazio. In the first half, the Blucherchiati defended for long spells and never created many chances, though the second half showed the team’s strength and they ended up winning the tie.
1st half
Lazio controlled the match in the opening minutes and made several openings in the Doria defence. It was Ledesma, who almost got on the score-sheet when his screamer, from just outside the box went inches wide. Minutes later, Curci dealt well with a powerful Floccari header from nine yards. Lazio almost scored when new-comer, and Seria A debutant Hernanes’ long range effort skimmed the crossbar.
After twenty-five minutes, Samp finally got their first chance of the game. Cassano chased down a long ball on the right, then dribbled past two defenders, and into the box, but Muslera rushed out to claim the ball off his feet before he could take a shot.
The rest of the half was a midfield battle, which saw Lazio take control again, though except for a Hernanes free kick, that Curci saved comfortably, they couldn’t create any genuine chances.
2nd half
Samp came out stronger in the second half and tried to create openings through set-pieces and corners, but it was Lazio who had the first real chance when Lichtsteiner pounced on a lobbed pass inside the box, and fired just over the upright.
In the next ten-fifteen minutes, Samp started to play their game. Zauri made a rare run forward down the right wing, and found himself in a scoring position, though his right footed shot missed the target. Cassano also did eveything to dictate play in the final third, and that almost bore it’s fruit when his low drive skimmed the left post after a neat one-two play.
Just before the hour mark, Samp took the lead. The referee awarded a penalty for a Lichtsteiner shirt-tug on Dessena, that Cassano calmly slotted home, though Muslera dived in the same direction. The penalty decision made Lazio coach, Edy Reja, very furious, and he saw red after he made heavy protests.
Palombo fired a cannonball from way out, but Muslera did well to parry it over the bar, before Samp doubled their lead. The second goal came after Muslera made a poor error when he punched a set play towards Guberti, who lobbed the ball into the empty net from about nine yards.
Lazio tried to come back into the game after the second goal, as they subbed in Rocchi and Foggia to strenghten their attack. Another debutant, Candava, fired just over the bar, while Curci had to make a fine save after Gastaldello headed the ball towards his own goal. In the end, Samp took all three points as Lazio’s desperate efforts were all in vain.
Teams
Sampdoria: Curci; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Semioli (Mannini 92), Palombo, Dessena; Guberti (Koman 75); Pazzini, Cassano
Lazio: Muslera; Biava, Dias, Radu; Lichtsteiner (Rocchi 74), Ledesma, Matuzalem, Del Nero (Cavanda 57); Hernanes, Zarate (Foggia 69); Floccari
Ref: Romeo
………………………
Cassano
Europa League 2010/11 Draw
Aug/102
Sampdoria went into the Europa League draw today following their dissapointing failure to qualify for this years Champions League.
The Blucerchiati have been drawn in Group I along with : PSV Eindhoven, FC Metalist Kharkiv, Debreceni.
This will surely be a group Sampdoria will look to qualify from.
Sampdoria v Bremen
Aug/100
There is quite a lot of background to digest before the return leg of the marquee Champions League qualifier between Sampdoria and Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.
Since the German team won the first leg 3-1 last Wednesday, much has shifted, including the playing surface of the much maligned Marassi stadium in Genova. The visitors arrived yesterday and found the pitch to be of such a low grade that they did not wish to train on it. Subsequently the local council of Genova, who has responsibility for the upkeep of the stadium has been formally asked to improve the playing surface by UEFA, given that Samp will play in one of the European Competitions this year regardless of the result tonight.
The Blucerchiati were thrown a lifeline in the first leg with Giampaolo Pazzini’s header in extra-time meaning they require a 2-0 victory at home to seal the Champions League spot. Bremen have had a tough week, losing striker Almeida on the weekend during a 4-1 loss to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and with several players laid low by a virus and unable to travel to Italy, the tie is more evenly balanced than last week’s result may suggest.
It is also the Blucerchiati’s debut at home this season so the enthusiasm of the local supporters will be at fever pitch. A total sell out is expected and local fans will be looking to Antonio Cassano to start his season at Marassi in style. In other Samp team news, Andrea Poli is ruled out by an ankle injury, perhaps opening a spot in mid-field for Dessena or Koman or a reprieve for Tissone after his error cost Samp the opening goal last week. In defence Stefano Lucchini is suspended and Massimo Volta is expected to partner Gastaldello in the middle of the back four, with Marius Stankevicius taking the vacant spot at right back.
Finally Manchester City Boss and ex-Blucerchiato hero Roberto Mancini has lent his support to his ex-club in an interview stating that Samp must believe in the result and the fans will do the rest!
doc
Zauri Returns To Samp
Aug/100
It is now official that Lazio have loaned Luciano Zauri back to Sampdoria, announced the Genoa club.
“UC Sampdoria confirm the acquisition, on loan with the right to buy, of Luciano Zauri (born in Pescina, L’Aquila, on January 20 1978).
“The full-back, who has taken shirt number 78, will be at Coach Domenico Di Carlo’s service from this afternoon’s training session.”
It is a return for Italian international Zauri, who had already spent last season on loan at Marassi.
Although Samp did not take up their option to buy half his contract in July, they have renewed the terms for another year.
Lazio have owned him since 2003, but was farmed out first to Fiorentina and then the Blucerchiati.
Werder Bremen 3-1 Sampdoria
Aug/100
Scorers: Fritz 50 (W), Frings pen 67 (W), Pizarro 69 (W), Pazzini 90 (S).
Sent off: Lucchini 66 (S).
Mimmo Di Carlo’s competitive début on the Sampdoria bench didn’t go well but Giampaolo Pazzini’s late strike keeps Sampdoria’s Champions League hopes alive.
The Blucerchiati line-up for this game reflected their lack of activity in the summer transfer market. Massimo Volta was a slightly surprising choice at right-back. Daniele Mannini and Fernando Tissone were preferred to Stefano Guberti and Andrea Poli in midfield.
The Italian club’s 2,500 tickets sold out in just 30 minutes and the away section of the Weserstadion was full 90 minutes before kick-off. Samp started brightly and had the first chance of the match in the fourth minute when Angelo Palombo’s clever free kick found Pazzini’s head but the striker couldn’t get his effort on target.
Ten minutes later, Pazzini had the ball in the net after a Franco Semioli cross but the striker was correctly flagged offside.
Gianluca Curci, another Samp debutant, first parried a long distance Hunt shot and then punch the ball off the head of Hunt.
On the half-hour mark, an Almeida header went narrowly over the crossbar. Moments before half-time, a fierce long distance shot from Bargfrede brought a good save out of Curci.
Bremen’s breakthrough came shortly after half-time. Tissone’s poor clearance from the edge of the box found Clemens Fritz in space. His left-footed strike flew into the top corner past a helpless Curci.
The Germans were now firmly on top and Hunt flashed a daisy-cutter across the face of goal.
However, Sampdoria were unlucky not to equalise just before the hour-mark. Mannini and Cassano combined well to set up Pazzini, whose shot beat Tim Wiese but hit the post.
A few minutes later, the Italian team was down to 10 men. Stefano Lucchini received his second yellow card from the French referee for a pull on Prodl’s shirt in the Sampdoria penalty area. Torsten Frings buried the resultant penalty, despite Curci guessing the right way.
As a result of the sending off, Doria were forced to sacrifice Semioli in favour of an extra defender, Marius Stankevicius. Moments later, it was 3-0. Bremen’s third was a fine team move. Hugo Almeida’s backheel found Claudio Pizarro, who then beat Curci from eight yards.
Guberti cut in from the left and curled a shot narrowly wide of the far post. Stankevicius hit a powerful effort from the edge of the area, but it was off target.
Antonio Cassano was booked for diving but ten-man Samp did not give in. In the final minute, a Stankevicius cross from the right found Pazzini’s head. The Italian made no mistake this time and his header nestled in the bottom corner.
Curci was forced into one last save in stoppage time but the first leg finished 3-1. Sampdoria know that a 2-0 win at home in the second leg will ensure they advance to the group stage for the first time since 1992.
Werder Bremen: Wiese; Pasanen (Boenisch 77), Mertesacker, Prodl, Fritz; Bargfrede, Frings, Borowski; Hunt (Marin 85); Pizarro, Hugo Almeida (Arnautovic 88).
Sampdoria: Curci; Volta, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Semioli (Stankevicius 68), Palombo, Tissone (Poli 59), Mannini (Guberti 65); Cassano, Pazzini.
Referee: Lannoy (Fra)
JC
ucsampdoria.co.uk
Follow Us
Sponsors
