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

“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

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.”

“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.”

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Roma started strongly and it was Totti who opening the scoring, slotting in a neat goal to send the home fans into delirium. However, Samp didn’t come to the capital to watch and reacted with some good build up play, but not the clear chances needed to score.

Sampdoria goalie, Marco Storari, already something of a folk-hero despite only being at the club on loan since January, was again instrumental in limiting the damage done in the first half. He made a couple of great saves, including one from point blank at the near post against Totti. Teams went to the break with Roma in the lead 1-0.

Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri made two changes to the mid-field for the start of the second term. With Daniele Mannini replacing ex-Roma winger Stefano Guberti, and Andrea Poli making way in the middle of the park for Fernando Damian Tissone. It only took 7 minutes for the scores to level, as Antonio Cassano beat three Roma defenders on the edge of the box and crossed high to the far post, where Pazzini soared to meet the ball with a strong down header at the feet of Roma’s Julio Sergio.

Storari was again magnificent in the second half, as was the Sampdoria defense in total to hold out a marauding Roma side, held bent on victory. However, in a echo of last weeks win against Milan, it was Daniele Mannini who provided the cross, low in to the 6 yard box, where Pazzini again got inside his marker and with a lunging right foot, steered the ball wide of Julio Sergio, no doubt prompting a deafening roar in the home’s and bar’s of Genova Blucerchiata. Celebrations that spilled over later in the evening as a few hundred fans flocked to the Aeroporto Christoforo Colombo to welcome the team home.

Sampdoria are showing themselves in the last week to be worthy contenders in any European competition, and with this victory they cemented their spot on the international stage. The next match against already relegated Livorno looms as a celebration and an opportunity to exorcise some demons, as the Doriani went down mid-season to the Livornese. Samp now perhaps lining up a late run at third placed Milan, but nonetheless still masters of their own destiny.

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The club that he belongs to is flying towards the Scudetto, the one he plays for is charging into Champions League contention.  On Sunday at 20:45, the lights at the Olimpico will flick on for Roma-Sampdoria, the Giallorossi against the Blucerchiati, first against fourth.  Never before has Stefano Guberti anticipated a similar event, a match that can cap off a season as a major player. “I have to say that I’m very satisfied” – said the left winger in an interview with Samp tv. “It would be tremendous if both ‘my’ teams could reach their respective ambitions.  Right now I’m thinking as a Doriano and it’s normal that I’m hoping for a goal. We’ll see what happens this Sunday.” 

 Staying with last Sunday, coming back against Milan must have given you another shot of confidence.

 ”The beginning of the match was even overall, we went down a goal at the first occasion the Rossoneri had, but we did well to react immediately. They shut down at the back and it seemed like the ball didn’t want to go in, then, thankfully, everything changed and we won ourselves three important points.”

 Three well deserved points, do you agree?

 We deserved to win despite Bonera being sent off.  We all had great games, beginning with the defense who had to look after players like Ronaldinho, Borriello and Seedorf, and they didn’t give them much.  It was a shame we didn’t score earlier, perhaps that was only sore point, but we were still good up front.

 The Table now has you in alone in fourth place, would you have expected that in January?

 “I’d have to say no.  There are other teams that train from the start to get these objectives.  We’ve done well to believe in ourselves and to bridge the gap as a team, with spirit of sacrifice and the desire to get over the line.”

 It’s pretty clear where the team wants to end up now…

 Well, we’ve got it all to play for until the end, and we have all the means to do it.  I think that on Sunday we’ll be facing the most difficult of our four finals. Nevertheless, we’re gong to Rome as the fourth placed team, aware of our strengths and with nothing to lose.”

 Have you heard from any of your old team mates? Are they nervous about this giant killing Sampdoria?

 Yes, I’ve spoken with them, but they were totally focused on the derby, we all know how much games of this nature weigh on the players.  This week they’ll have time to think about Sunday night and I’m certain of one thing: they’ll be very wary of us.”

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