Sampdoria were beaten 2-0 by a very impressive Fiorentina at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday night in Serie A.
An early first half penalty by Josip Ilicic after a handball by Ervin Zukanovic, was followed up by a second half strike by Nikola Kalinic to send the Viola back to the top of Serie A.
The away side began the brighter and took the lead after only eight minutes. A ball over the top found Federico Bernardeschi inside the box, and as he tried to flick the ball inside Zukanovic, the Bosnian stuck his hand out and a penalty was awarded to the Viola, which was then converted by Ilicic.
The Gigliati continued to look dangerous and should have doubled the lead soon after, when a through ball by Milan Badelj found Kalinic one-on-one with Emiliano Viviano in the Blucerchiati goal, but the Croatian shot wide with the goal gaping.
It wasn’t until the half hour mark when the home side finally created a half chance. Good work by Luis Muriel down the right saw his cross find Edgar Barreto just outside the box, but his shot flew over to the relief of Ciprian Tatarusanu in the Viola goal.
The Gigliati finished the half with the best chance, as a Badelj effort from 25 yards sailed over the crossbar as the Viola went in ahead at the break.
Twelve minutes into the second half the away side deservedly got their second. A nice one-two between Kalinic and Ilicic inside the box saw the Croatian tap home after a perfect cross from the Slovenian playmaker.
Samp should have pulled one back on 78 minutes, when a poor pass by Facundo Roncaglia found Eder inside the Viola box, but his tame shot was saved by the alert Tatarusanu.
Sampdoria now head to Udine to face the Zebrette after the international break, while the Viola take on Empoli in the Derby dell’Arno in two weeks time.
