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

Credit to the uploader.

Sampdoria went into this game on a poor run of form, only scoring 2 goals and conceding 10 in their last 5 games. Napoli were clear favourites, having not tasted defeat against Samp at home for around 12 years and were also on an 11 game unbeaten streak.

Sampdoria started brightly and nearly opened the scoring after just 5 minutes, but Semioli’s volley was deflected over from just six yards. Sampdoria dominated for the first 20 minutes of the game.

After 22 minutes, Ezequiel Lavezzi had to be taken off with a thigh injury and was replaced by German Denis who was to go on and grab the games deciding goal.

Napoli started to come to life, Daniele Gastaldello gave away possession to Marek Hamsik. He released Michele Pazienza to cross for Fabio Quagliarella, but his bicycle kick went wide, it wouldn’t have counted anyway due to an offside flag.

On the 29th minute, Aronica split the Samp defence wide open with a superb pass to put Maggio clean through on goal, but his shot was block by the on rushing Castellazzi.

After the break, Naploi created the better chances of the two side.

Denis has a goal chopped off on the 47th minute for offside.

Sampdoria were dealt a blow as Castellazzi had to go off injured and was replaced by the youngster Vincenzo Fiorillo.

Maggio should have scored on the 62nd minute, with the goal gapping after a fine cross from Aronica, he managed to fire the ball wide. Just 3 minutes later, Maggio had another chance to open the scoring as he closed in on Fiorillo from a tight angle but fired his shot straight at the keeper.

Napoli finally opened the scoring, with just 20 minutes remaining. Hugo Campagnaro chipped the ball in for German Denis to power a head past the help Fiorillo.

Sampdoria came close to equalising late on. Two Palombo freekicks both flew just past the Napoli keeper right hand post, but it wasn’t to be.

Sampdoria’s poor run continues as Napoli climb upto 4th in the table.

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Grava, Maggio, Gargano, Pazienza, Aronica, Hamsik, Quagliarella (Cigarini 90), Lavezzi (Denis 22)

Sampdoria: Castellazzi (Fiorillo 50); Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler, Semioli (Pozzi 77), Palombo, Poli, Mannini (Padalino 79); Pazzini, Cassano

Lombardo

The Serie A sides enter the Coppa Italia on Saturday 15th August,  Sampdoria have been drawn to play newly relegated Lecce at the Marassi.

Lecce beat Serie D side Vico Equense 4-0 in the previous round.

Elsewhere in the draw, there is a local derby between Napoli and Salernitana at the Stadio San Paolo.

Coppa Italia third round draw in full:

Chievo-Mantova
Bologna-Frosinone
Palermo-Spal
Brescia-Reggina
Napoli-Salernitana
Cittadella-Ascoli
Sampdoria – Lecce
Livorno-Torino
Siena-Grosseto/Cosenza
Parma-Novara
Atalanta-Cesena
Lumezzane-Ancona
Cagliari-Triestina
Sassuolo-Verona
Catania-Cremonese
Bari-Empoli

JC