Sampdoria 4 – 1 Bologna

Sampdoria blew Bologna away in a scintillating first half performance. Antonio Cassano was the star of the show.

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.