Hellas Verona were thumped 3-0 by Sampdoria in their Saturday afternoon Serie A meeting at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.
Goals from Roberto Soriano, Antonio Cassano and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos put the game out of reach of the Gialloblu before the half time whistle.
Early pressure from the visitors looked to set the tempo of the match, with Ricky Alvarez having his shot saved confidently by Pierluigi Gollini. Shortly after the opening goal arrived, the shot from Fabio Quagliarella was saved initially by Gollini, but Roberto Soriano stamped home the rebound to put the Blucerchiati ahead.
Quagliarella was in again after an error from Vangelis Moras, his shot pushed onto the crossbar and back into play, where Antonio Cassano only had to apply a touch to make it 2-0. At the other end the Verona talisman Luca Toni was in on goal, but his stretched effort was easily saved by Emiliano Viviano.
Lorenzo De Silvestri had his cross slammed into the back of the net from Lazaros Christodoulopoulos on the volley, his first for the club coming against his former side. Quagliarella then went just wide with a late effort, before hitting another chance over the crossbar before the half time whistle blew.
In the second half Sampdoria had chances to increase their lead, Cassano this time skying his close-range effort over the bar. Quagliarella was denied again from getting in on the act, this time Moras intercepting the cross from De Silvestri in a bid to redeem himself.
Juanito had one final effort to restore some pride for Verona, but Viviano parried it out of play. Andrea Ranocchia came close with a late header, but sent it past the post. Sampdoria now move up to 13th ahead of Atalanta momentarily, while Verona continue to reside at rock bottom in the Serie A standings.
