Cesena 0 – 1 Sampdoria

Scorers:
Pazzini 92 (S)

At the first match since Cassano’s incident, a late goal by Pazzini was enough for Sampdoria to take all three points home against newly-promoted Cesena.

Match Action

Tension was around for both teams, as Cesena had lost 4 out of 5 games in Serie A and recently failed to progress in Coppa Italia after losing to Serie B side Novara, while Samp is currently dealing with another “Cassanata”. The club began to take legal proceedings for the termination of Cassano’s contract after his outburst with President Ricardo Garrone last week.

Sampdoria played their usual formation but with one change, as Pozzi comes in for Cassano. The home side dominated the first twenty minutes of the match, as Samp struggled to gain possession of the ball.

Zauri accidentally cut his right hand as he clashed against the advertising board, though he was quickly treated.

A good attack by Cesena resulted in a Jimenez shot, which Curci parried away and then saved the follow up attempt from Giaccherini.

Samp finally threatened at the half-hour mark. From the right side, Pozzi reached Pazzini inside the box. The striker passed back to Koman, whose shot went just wide of the right post.

Samp finally threatened at the half-hour mark, as a set play was knocked down twice until Giampaolo Pazzini came sliding in, just failing to get the final touch.

At the hour mark, protests were heard from the crowd as Lucchini touched the ball with his hand inside the box during a slide tackle to block Giaccherini’s cross from the right side, but the referee waved away the protests.

A free kick attempt by Palombo was parried away by Antonioli. Moments later, Pazzini tipped the ball with his right foot, but Cesena’s goalkeeper reacted quickly, conceding another corner kick.

At the injury time, when the game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, Marilungo came across the right side and crossed a low ball into the box for Pazzini to tap into the empty net.

Cesena: Antonioli; Ceccarelli, Pellegrino, Benalouane, Nagatomo; Appiah, Colucci, Parolo; Giaccherini, Bogdani, Jimenez (Schelotto 84)

Sampdoria: Curci; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Accardi (Ziegler 74); Koman, Palombo, Tissone; Guberti (Mannini 66); Pazzini, Pozzi (Marilungo 74)

Ref: Celi

Geamado

Dessena rejoins Samp at 100%

Newly married and a first-time dad, the twenty-three year old midfielder will return to the Blucerchiati after the Genovese club purchased the remaining half of his contract from his hometown club, Parma.

“Do I have to tell the truth? Rather than my football career, in the last few days I’ve been thinking more about my partner and our new baby. Now, however, I’m really happy and satisfied.” 

When one puts their family above all else… Those who think that young players with a good head on solid shoulders are no longer a reality, might reconsider if they heard the words of Daniele Dessena. Two or three weeks ago, Tommaso was born to Carlotta and Daniele and in September they will all travel to Moena together. But before the spring the Dessena family have already begun to re-associate with the Blucerchiati colours. Completely. The club has just claimed the remaining half of his playing card. “I sincerely didn’t expect it – Says Daniele - I’m a bit surprised at the developments but I’m happy: to return to Sampdoria is great news for me, a suprise in the true sense of the word.”

Who contacted you from Genova? Have you spoken with anyone?

“The director Gasparin called me straight away. I don’t know him, but he gave me his personal welcome back and said a few nice things to me. I still haven’t spoken with Mister Di Carlo, but there’s still time to do so. At the moment I don’t know if I’ll be at the presentation on the 6th of July, given that my partner is still recovering, but I’m certain of being at the retreat in Moena and from then on I’m putting myself fully in the hands of the coaching staff.”

One year later, you’re coming back to Samp in Champions League. What are you looking forward to about this return?

“My desire would be to play with some continuity, I’m young and it’s normal to have some clear aspirations. My ex-teammates had a extraordinary season and next year there will be three competitions to perform in: I believe that there’ll be some big opportunities for me.”

How much did you gain from your year in Cagliari?

“In Sardinia I had a really positive season from all points of view. At the squad level we did well, especially in the first half of the season when we put just about everyone to the torch. Personally I played more than 30 games and I fitted in well in a group of good players and people.

Do you keep any good memories of your first experience as a Blucerchiato?

“It’s certainly a good memory, undoubtably. I didn’t get many starts, but even in Genova, between the championship, the Uefa Cup and the Coppa Italia, I got on the field about 30 times. The most lasting memory is one from Europe, from Belgrade. I didn’t play a great game but I got a good goal that changed everything and was fundamental for our qualification out of the group. Let’s hope it’s a good omen for this year…”

source: www.sampdoria.it

Preparations at fever pitch as 2,000 Doria fans prepare to follow Samp in Sicily

Preparations are running smoothly for Sampdoria ahead of their vital clash in Palermo this Sunday. Contributing to the positive air around Bogliasco is the news of Andrea Poli’s contract being extended to 2014. The young mid-field talent is expected to regain his starting position after missing the last match against Livorno with a stomach virus, which kept him bed-ridden on Sunday. Since Tuesday he has been back at training and showed no signs of fatigue on Wednesday during the double session. The only players missing on Wednesday were in fact Palombo and Pazzini, who will return from national team training duties on Thursday for the hit-out against amateur side Fidentina. With regards to the team that faced Livorno, Stefano Guberti is expected to regain his spot on the wing, while Tissone and Mannini will aim to make an impact from the bench, as they have done very successfully during the last month.

The importance of the match, which could see the return of Sampdoria to top-flight European competiton after an absence of 18 years, was underlined by President Riccardo Garrone when he commented during the week that:

“What presents itself now is without doubt the greatest opportunity that has arisen in the 8 years that I have been President. We went close in 2005, enough to finish one point beneath a team that went on (Udinese). This time we have really earned our stripes and it’s a fantastic chance, so we’re pouring everything into gaining at the place at the table that we deserve.”

The sense of occasion is at fever pitch in Genova this week, as Blucerchiati fans have already pulverised the 2000 tickets available for the away fans section at the Stadio Barbera. They have even gone so far as to charter two planes to make the trip to Sicily. Defensive Right-back Luciano Zauri expressed his gratitude saying :

“For us it’s the best. They’ll make us feel us feel at home, and to see our fans support is a fundamental reference point for us. We all know the importance of this game, it’s a game like all the others, but to leave that stadium undefeated would mean a lot.”

Argentine Mid-fielder Fernando Damian Tissone was a little more mirthful in an interview with local paper Il Secolo XIX

“If we win, we’ll finish our campaign a day in advance, and maybe we can even aim for third spot, if Milan loses.. but I don’t think Genoa will be giving us a hand! Just joking, otherwise there’ll be another mess like after Lazio-Inter. Anyway, we won’t be looking for a draw as playing like that is not our strong-point, as Mr Del Neri has said. We need to repeat the kind of performance we gave in Roma.

I’ve heard that there will be a pretty hostile crowd, in fact I’m sure that they will whistle us every time we have the ball. Personally, a situation like that just spurs me on.  And besides, it’s every soccer players dream to play in a full stadium.”

He also spent a couple of words on his future at the club, stating:

“My wish is to stay here, at Sampdoria. It doesn’t only depend on me, however, as I’m in co-ownership, but I’ll do everything I can to make that wish come true.”

Del Neri’s record-breaking year continues

It was a relieved Luigi Del Neri who fronted the press shortly after his Sampdoria side took the win again, this time over Livorno, consolidating the Blucerchiati in fourth place and realising their fifth win a row. The manager from the Friulian town of Aquilea was more wary of this match than any other, as against the ‘big’ clubs his men have done exceedingly well – whereas if there have been lapses in concentration, it has happened against lesser rated opposition.

“Today’s match was really difficult – Del Neri began – because there was only one result we could accept if we were to continue our dream of finishing in fourth. Everybody had us penned in for the win, but instead we had to fight for the three points. This victory, like the last few the team has won, gives us the belief to go ahead and play the last two matches in the best possible manner. In the second half of the season the lads have always turned up for the big occasion and this makes me confident ahead of the next two against Palermo and Napoli.”

Next Sunday Sampdoria will be in Sicily to battle out their rivals for the fourth and last Champions League spot. The Rosaneri are two points behind, but will have the home-field advantage.

“We have two more matches to play that are obviously to be seen as two finals. However, I have always maintained that fourth place will be decided on the last day of the championship: Now we will focus on the match with Palermo, which we are going to approach will our heads high, without thinking about being able to count on one of two results. We are a team that is able to control a match, we just have to remain positive on the pitch and play with the confidence of a team that has already achieved something very important.”

Del Neri has every reason to speak highly of his team, as they have put together a campaign that has exceeded any previous expectations. At 63, they now have the record number of points for a Sampdoria team, and have won 18 matches, the next highest after the 20 won in 1990/91′s Scudetto season.

“What has happened up to now fills us with satisfaction. At a personal level I have never won five matches in a row, but thanks to these lads, I’ve broken the umpteenth taboo this year. We’re assured of a European place, three games prior to the end of the season, something which in fact has not been discussed a lot. Now we are in position to reach a even more important milestone: we will try with all our might, but whatever happens, what this group have already achieved will remain extraordinary.”

doc