The visitors made themselves feel at home as they dominated the match with good passes and wing attacks. Lucchini got an early yellow card by tripping Lavezzi.

On 13 minutes, a long ball found Cavani in the penalty box with only the keeper to beat, but the Uruguayan let the ball escape with an awful first touch.

Samp finally woke up and threatened Napoli’s defense after 23 minutes, when Semioli carried the ball down the right flank and touched it to Cassano, who passed to Guberti, who hit a long shot wide from the edge of the box.

The referee ignored penalty appeals from the crowd when Cassano was pushed by Cannavaro inside the box at 31 minutes, after a Palombo free kick.

At 37 minutes, Lavezzi hit a fierce volley that made Curci work, but fortunately the Napoli player was offside. Minutes later, the goalkeeper was forced to make another save from a Dossena’s header. And, in the last moments of the first half, a long shot attempt from Dossena was parried by Curci.

Sampdoria tried to change the flow of the match after the break. But it was Napoli that had the first great opportunity when a mistake by Dessena resulted in a counter-attack that ended with a good shot from Gargano, that passed near Curci’s post.

Curci made another save from a Cavani shot at 58 minutes. Moments later, it was De Sanctis’ turn when he saved a free kick shot by Palombo.

Sampdoria almost opened the score after the hour mark, when a beautiful long shot by Guberti hit the post. Napoli also hit the frame with a Gargano free kick, then Maggio tried to head the ball but he was caught offside.

At 76 minutes Sampdoria gained a penalty kick when substitute Pozzi was pushed by Cannavaro inside the box. De Sanctis guessed the right way but couldn’t reach it.

The goal didn’t intimidate the visitors, who evened the score in a matter of minutes. An intelligent Gargano free kick took Sampdoria defense by surprise when it reached Hamsik, who had the easy task of slotting it into the net.

But the worst was yet to come. Just two minutes later, a cross from the left by Lavezzi found Cavani in front of Lucchini, who volleyed the ball from point-blank range.

Samp had one last chance to diminish the damage with a desperate attempt by Palombo, but he was disarmed by Cannavaro in the box.

Teams

Sampdoria: Curci; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Palombo, Dessena, Semioli (Mannini 71); Guberti (Koman 79); Cassano, Pazzini (Pozzi 74)

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Grava; Maggio, Pazienza, Gargano, Dossena; Hamsik, Lavezzi (Sosa 91); Cavani

Ref: Valeri

geamado

Juventus and Sampdoria played out a thrilling 3-3 draw this afternoon in Turin.

The two sides came into this game in very different form. Juve were beaten 1-0 in Bari on the opening weekend, while the Blucerchiati had won 2-0 away to Lazio.

Giampaolo Pazzini, Paolo Sammarco, Andrea Poli, Pietro Accardi, Fernando Tissone and Stefano Guberti didn’t make the trip due to injury. The Bianconeri were without Gigi Buffon, Amauri, Momo Sissoko, Jorge Martinez and new signing Armand Traore.

Seventeen years ago today, Alessandro Del Piero made his Juve debut against Foggia.

The best of the early chances fell to Nicola Pozzi after a mistake by Felipe Melo. Marco Storari managed to parry it for a corner.

Cassano also had a great opportunity for the Blucerchiati and again ex-teammate Storari had to rush off his line to close him down in a one-on-one.

Sampdoria had the best of the first half and took the lead. Cassano got the better of Marco Motta on the left and pulled it back for Pozzi, who finished neatly into the bottom corner.

Del Piero came close with a free-kick that shaved the post.

Juventus equalised when Milos Krasic knocked the ball down for the oncoming Claudio Marchisio, who thumped the ball into the net.

The first half ended with the score at 1-1. Shortly after half-time, Juve went ahead in chaotic fashion. A moment of chaos in the Sampdoria penalty area involving Gastaldello, Curci, Quagliarella and Pepe ended with Pepe bundling the ball over the line. The goal stood even though replays suggest the winger may have been offside.

Krasic should’ve scored his team’s third. He out-sprinted three defenders but his low drive was beaten away by Curci.

Del Piero again hit a free-kick narrowly wide.

Sampdoria got back into the game when Cassano and Angelo Palombo combined and Fantantonio beat Storari.

The game wasn’t tied for long. Fabio Quagliarella made it 3-2 after Pepe had numegged Zauri.

It was a spectacular second half and Sampdoria made it 3-3 a few minutes later. Guido Marilungo came on for Franco Semioli and it was his splendid cross from the right that found Pozzi in space between Leonardo Bonucci and Marco Motta. Gigi Delneri will be far from happy with his two new defenders.

Del Piero crossed from the left with the outside of his right foot but Curci tipped it away from the feet of Quagliarella. Vincenzo Iaquinta’s deflected effort from point-blank range forced Curci into another save. Finally, Felipe Melo headed narrowly wide from a corner.

Juventus: Storari; Motta (Grygera 76), Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie; Krasic (Iaquinta 78), Felipe Melo, Marchisio, Pepe (Aquilani 78); Del Piero, Quagliarella

Sampdoria: Curci; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini (Volta 79), Ziegler; Semioli (Marilungo 69), Palombo, Dessena, Koman (Obiang 58); Cassano, Pozzi

Referee: Mazzoleni

JC

“I can guarantee that Sampdoria will not deprive themselves of Cassano, not even if the club don’t qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.”

Rumours had circulated over the weekend linking the fantasista with a move to Inter as a replacement for Mario Balotelli, who is said to be very close to signing for Manchester City. Bozzo denied there was any truth in this. “I haven’t been in touch with any Inter officials during this particular transfer window for my client.”

JC

The club captain is joined in the squad by Sampdoria team-mates Antonio Cassano and Stefano Lucchini, but he believes that Sampdoria have more to offer to the national team.

“I hope that Giampaolo Pazzini and Daniele Gastaldello find space in the future at some stage. Gastaldello is one of the most consistent defenders in the Italian championship.”

JC

Palombo is a regular in the squad and Cassano had been widely expected to be recalled once Marcello Lippi’s reign as Azzurri manager ended.  Lucchini’s selection comes as something of a surprise, even to the man himself. “It is a dream come true, but I really did not expect this at all. There was no hint. I had read so many names in the newspapers over the last few days, but mine never appeared. It really is quite a shock.”

Italy squad to play Ivory Coast in a friendly at Upton Park on August 10th:

Goalkeepers: Marchetti (Cagliari), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Bologna)

Defenders: Antonini (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Bonucci (Juventus), Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Lucchini (Sampdoria), Molinaro (Stuttgart), Motta (Juventus)

Midfielders: De Rossi (Roma), Lazzari (Cagliari), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pepe (Juventus)

Attackers: Amauri (Juventus), Balotelli (Inter), Borriello (Milan), Cassano (Sampdoria), Quagliarella (Napoli), Rossi (Villarreal)

JC

When asked if Angelo Palombo or Giampaolo Pazzini would be following Gigi Del Neri and Beppe Marotta to Turin, he replied:

“The President has already declared that they are not for sale.”

The tactician also spoke with excitement about his new adventure.

“It’s an honour to be here. I felt incredible joy last night when I was given the okay to complete the move. It’s an honour to be here and the Champions League will be a fantastic stage to play on. We’ll always give our best.”

Finally, he commented on Antonio Cassano.

“He is an important player and I want our relationship to be clear from day one. Our bond will grow and I’m sure he’ll have a great season as he will want to break into the Italy side for the European Championship.”

Juve_curr

Prior to last weeks match against Udinese there was much confusion over the reason for Cassano’s absence from the team picked to make the trip to Udine. Del Neri maintained that he was making a tactical decision and no other motivation was needed to justify his actions. As it happened Sampdoria showed great character to come from behind twice to win 3-2. The proof is on the pitch, as they say.

The club has gone to great lengths to assure the media that there has been no breakdown between Cassano and Del Neri, saying that the player accepted the coaches decision calmly and maturely. It has been revealed in the Genovese press that Cassano only asked that no excuses were made or lies told about being sidelined through injury. To add to the confusion Cassano has picked up some soreness in a right knee tendon and had a reduced training regime this week, but Del Neri maintained at his Friday press conference that his tactical choice to leave Cassano out remained the same regardless.

Later on in the evening, the Sampdoria President commented whilst attending a sports medicine event in Genova, stating:

“The Cassano situation will be handled with particular attention because he is an extraordinary resource, an extraordinary asset… and I’d never say otherwise. We are watching closely, however Del Neri is the manager and evidently there is full adhesion to his choices and opinions regarding the team from the Administrator and the President.”

He also clearly responded to the questions regarding offers that may have arrived for Cassano in the last few days of the January transfer window, saying:

“They would have to be well above the 20 million euro recessionary clause in his contract and this is also the desire of the player. I don’t think it is possible and given that the market is over in two days time, I don’t see this offer materialising.”

Doc

Sampdoria went into the game with the chance to return to the top of the table, for a few hours anyway. They were boosted by the news that top marksman Giampaolo Pazzini would be play the game wearing a protective mask.

This was Bologna’s first game under the leadership of Franco Colomba who replaced Giuseppe Papadopulo who was sacked last week, it wasn’t to be a happy debut.

It took Sampdoria just 7 minutes to take the lead, a fantastic first touch fron Cassano on the right wing took him past Lanna, he then laid the ball back to Pazzini to knock in from six yards.

Bologna had a chance moments later with Di Vaio skimming the post with a header.

It didn’t take Samp long to double their lead though, Pazzini played in a cross from the left for the unmarked Mannini to fire in a spectacular volley. What a goal!

Not long after Sampdoria went on to grab a third, confidence was visibly high as Samp knocked the ball around. Reto Ziegler picked the ball up just outside the D, he spun his marker and fired the ball into the bottom corner, another classy goal from Sampdoria.

Things got even worse for Bologna as they were reduced to ten men after Di Vaio back chatted the referee and was given his second booking and was sent off.

This really was a first half for Bologna to forget, with just 32 minutes played, Sampdoria went on to make it 4-0. Some classy play from Fantantonio once again, he turned two Bologna defenders inside out then crossed in for an easy for Mannini to head in and grab his second goal of the game.

Sampdoria took their foot off the gas in the 2nd half and they got caught out. Osvaldo who had just came on, scored with his first touch of the game, after some sloppy defending from Sampdoria allowed the forward to tap into an unguarded net.

Samp strolled though the remaining 2nd half and went on to claim the 3 points which returned them to the top of the table for a few hours atleast.

Sampdoria : Castellazzi; Rossi, Lucchini (Accardi 79), Zauri, Stankevicius; Palombo (Franceschini 86), Mannini, Poli (Tissone 46), Ziegler; Pazzini, Cassano

Goals : Pazzini (7), Mannini (16), Ziegler (25), Mannini (32)

Bologna : Viviano; Lanna, Zenoni, Portanova, Britos (Moras 60); Valiani, Guana, Vigiani (Adailton 69), Mudingayi; Di Vaio, Zalayeta (Osvaldo 60)

Goals : Osvaldo (62)

Sent Off : Di Vaio 27

Ref : Saccani

“Nobody, including Inter, have enquired after him,” claimed Marotta.

“Besides, the season is fast approaching and it would be too late to change all our plans so drastically.

“We are happy with our squad, although we have got plenty of time to complete it with some important additions.”

Marotta has also confirmed that he came close to signing Flamengo striker Adriano.

“Our preferred policy, other than focusing on young talent, is to ‘recover’ great champions who have perhaps lost their way.

“We had given Adriano some thought. It’s a shame he is no longer available, seeing as he decided to remain in Brazil.”

So far in this transfer window the Blucerchiati have signed Daniele Mannini, Fernando Tissone and Matteo Guardalben as well as loaning Lazio’s Luciano Zauri and Parma’s Marco Rossi.

Samp’s league campagn gets underway on Sunday August 23 away to Catania.

JC

It was the usual suspects on the score sheet with both Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini grabbing two goals each. Pazzini grabbed the first on 28th minute, Cassano added the second on 58th minute, Pazzini then sealed the win on the 74th minute and Cassano topped it off with the fourth goal on the 92nd minute.

Starting Lineup :

Castellazzi

Cacciatore
Lucchini
Rossi
Zauri

Padalino
Sammarco
Tissone
Franceschini

Marilungo
Pazzini

Subs Used :

Costantino (Castellazzi)

Stankevicius (Cacciatore)
Volta (Lucchini)
Gastaldello (Rossi)
Ziegler (Zauri)

Dessena (Padalino)
Poli (Sammarco)
Palombo (Tissone)
Mannino (Franceschini)

Cassano (Marilungo)