The Derby della Lanterna ended 1-1 between Sampdoria and Genoa in a re-scheduled Serie A clash, on Tuesday at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Genoa took the lead on 17 minutes through Spaniard Iago Falque’s sixth goal for the Rossoblu, but the hosts were level within minutes as Eder was allowed in to draw his side level via a cool finish.
A tight second-half featured less in the way of chances, as each side introduced their attack-minded January signings to make an impact, but to little effect as the hosts squandered the better chances and Juraj Kucka hit the bar as the Marassi derby finished all square.
As expected, the clash of the Ligurians was hotly-contested from the off, with the Grifone extracting the best early chance through Andrea Bertolacci heading a set-piece off-target, just as the Blucerchiati’s Alessio Romagnoli did moments later.
Genoa looked to get in the face of their rivals and some intricate build-up play saw Mbaye Niang cross fiercely for Falque, who side-footed his team ahead at the far-post. However, the lead was not to last long as Facundo Roncaglia’s hesitancy on the ball allowed la Samp top-scorer Eder in one-on-one to slot the hosts level on 19 minutes.
It should have been a quick turn-around, but Stefano Okaka sent a close-range shot over the bar with the goal gaping on 27 minutes, emphasising how the Italian international has struggled for form lately.
Big challenges were part and parcel of the derby game, with Angelo Palombo clattering into Bertolacci to position a good free-kick opportunity for Genoa- which Falque whipped just wide of the sprawling Emiliano Viviano’s goal.
Niang then had a couple of shots on-target parried, with the away side playing the better football in the first-half, and Sampdoria largely restricted to attacking set-pieces to keep it level at the break.
A couple of wayward early shots set the tone for the second period’s early exchanges, in which il Doria threatened more as Afriyie Acquah forced a save at the near-post.
The home defence had become much more astute since Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team-talk, as displayed by the visitors being forced to shoot from range shot and seeing their efforts fly off-target.
Sebastian De Maio slid in smartly to halt a concise through-ball for Okaka on 75 minutes, and a winner looked unlikely as fouls and sloppy touches broke up the game. The Rossoblu were still in the game, however, and dangerous runs into the area by substitute Zakarya Bergdich, and then Uruguayan attacker Diego Perotti, reminded the home crowd of their rival’s threat.
With Marco Boriello thrown on by coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and the Blucherchiati’s Luis Muriel subbed on alongside Samuel Eto’o in the biting wind of the North-West, it was a surprise to see Samp midfielder Pedro Obiang in on goal, but lofting his shot over Mattia Perin’s goal in the 85th minute.
Both sides flustered in injury-time, with the Grifone’s 94th-minute free-kick headed onto the bar by Kucka and eventually cleared to end the game 1-1.
