Unione Calcio Sampdoria

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[juventino_italiano]

[Messinterista]

Del Neri doubts Viola crisis - Saturday 13 February, 2010

Gigi Del Neri will not allow Sampdoria to think today’s opponents Fiorentina are in crisis. “We need to go out there with a cudgel.”

The Viola have been struggling of late with one point from their last four Serie A games.

“I do not believe in this Fiorentina crisis, as they are a great side with a large squad who have shown in the Champions League what they’re capable of,” said Del Neri.

“They play excellent football and their current position in the table does not reflect the quality of the team.”

Samp also went through a dismal period of form before getting back on track with three consecutive victories.

The Blucerchiati are now five points in front of Fiorentina, even though the Tuscans have a game in hand.

“Let us not get caught in the trap of looking at the table, as we’ll only be able to make judgments at the end of the season.

“We are facing a strong side and need to go out there with a cudgel. If we try to take on Fiorentina with a rapier sword, it’s unlikely we’ll bring home a result.”

Sampdoria’s victories all came since Antonio Cassano was dropped and he is unavailable for this tie due to an injury.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/feb13d.html

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Castellazzi in talks with Inter Tuesday 2 March, 2010

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Sampdoria goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi is apparently in advanced talks with Inter about a move to San Siro this summer.

The Nerazzurri are keen to find another back up for Julio Cesar as Francesco Toldo reaches the end of his career.

Castellazzi has been excellent this season but currently sits on the sidelines with a serious injury.

Speaking to fcinternews.it, Castellazzi's agent, Adriano Rebuffi said: “We have an excellent relationship with Samp but it's only normal that anyone can make their own judgements.

“Talks with Inter are at an advance stage. Inter have shown a definite interest to acquire Castellazzi's services in mid-February.

“I spoke to Inter's technical director Marco Branca. We have ascertained that there is a mutual interest and we'll meet again soon to hammer out a deal.

“I am optimistic because Inter have shown interest in the player.â€

[Messinterista]

Sampdoria 2-1 Lazio
Floccari 6 (L), Guberti 29 (S), Pazzini 36 (S)
Stadio Luigi Ferraris


Sampdoria fought back for the victory, but Lazio made a real stab at it even after Mauro Zarate's red card.

These two sides were Coppa Italia Finalists last season, but the Biancocelesti found themselves on the edge of the relegation zone. Edy Reja relaunched Mauro Zarate in a trident attack and dropped Francelino Matuzalem, while the injury list included Ousmane Dabo, Andre Dias, Pasquale Foggia, Julio Cruz, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabio Firmani. Samp welcomed back Giampaolo Pazzini and Nicola Pozzi from their bans, while Antonio Cassano found a spot on the bench two months after his injury. Reto Ziegler was suspended.

This fixture had ended in a draw just once since a spectacular 3-3 in April 1996 and finished goalless on only one occasion since 1976.

Within 120 seconds Mobido Diakite's header was deflected over, then Marco Storari beat away a Tommaso Rocchi angled drive.

Lazio had a very strong start and took the lead when Sergio Floccari chested down a Zarate ball from the left, shrugged off Pietro Accardi and managed to bundle it over the line with the outside of his right boot.

Sampdoria threatened when a Stefano Guberti cross flashed past both Pazzini and Franco Semioli.

The Blucerchiati drew level with a wonderful goal from ex-Roma winger Guberti. Angelo Palombo rolled a free kick across to the unmarked Guberti outside the D and he unleashed a right-foot rocket into the top corner.

Just seven minutes later Sampdoria were in the lead, as Semioli flicked up a ball from the edge of the box for Pazzini's secure right-foot volley in at the near post.

Lazio pushed back with Storari getting down to block a Rocchi angled drive and a Zarate cross-shot clipped the crossbar.

A corner fell to Stefano Lucchini at the back post, but the finish was inches wide. A spectacular Andrea Poli volley flashed just over the bar from a cleared corner kick.

Antonio Cassano made his comeback after almost two months, despite Coach Gigi Del Neri stating he would be slowly phased back in several weeks. Lucchini again turned a header just wide for Sampdoria.

Maybe it was the Marassi air, but Edy Reja was sent off for dissent, then Zarate got caught up in a 'Cassanata' when he took his protests too far and was sent off. Even after the card it took a while to remove him from the field and Cassano tried to calm him down.

Cassano's through ball released Poli, who fired straight at the goalkeeper in a one-on-one. At the other end Storari smothered a deflected Aleksandar Kolarov strike at the feet of Francelino Matuzalem.

10-man Lazio still went close to an equaliser in stoppages, as Storari beat away a Floccari screamer into the path of Stefano Mauri, who was then blocked off by Cacciatore.

Cassano nearly scored on the counter, but Nando Muslera did just enough to salvage the situation.

Sampdoria: Storari; Accardi (Cacciatore 60), Gastaldello, Lucchini, Zauri; Semioli, Palombo, Poli, Guberti (Mannini 73); Pazzini, Pozzi (Cassano 68)

Lazio: Muslera; Diakitè (Matuzalem 70), Stendardo, Siviglia (Mauri 83), Radu; Brocchi, Ledesma, Kolarov; Rocchi (Makinwa 63), Floccari, Zarate

Ref: Brighi

Sent off: Zarate 77 (L)

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sa0910/sam-laz.html

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Cassano returns to Bari Wednesday 24 March, 2010

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Sampdoria star Antonio Cassano was in tears yesterday as his side checked into their hotel ahead of tonight's match against Bari.

The 27-year-old playmaker grew up in the city and was the San Nicola's prodigal son after making his debut with the Galletti aged just 17.

He has never been back to play against Bari since he left for Roma in 2001, so tonight's match is expected to be emotional.

“I hope Antonio's feelings get to him and the reception of our fans moves him,â€

[juventino_italiano]

[Messinterista]

Roma - Sampdoria

Stadio Olimpico


Roma can almost taste the Scudetto now, but Antonio Cassano and Champions League chasing Sampdoria would love to throw a spanner in the works.

Last week's dramatic derby win against Lazio was a dream come true for Giallorossi fans. In one fell swoop Roma kept their title flame burning and landed their greatest rivals in big trouble at the opposite end of the table.

Just imagine how differently things could have turned out if Julio Sergio hadn't saved Sergio Floccari's penalty when Lazio led 1-0. The very fact that he did will have the fans believing I Lupi are destined to seal one of the most incredible Scudetto wins in Serie A history.

To put it in perspective Claudio Ranieri's charges were 5th in the standings as recently as mid-December. Now they're top and unbeaten in 23 league fixtures, having won the last six. They're still on course for the double, having scraped past Udinese in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi on Wednesday.

With Lazio's hurdle vaulted Sampdoria represent the toughest test left for Roma to face in the league.

The visitors from the North are in superb form and have the massive incentive of Champions League qualification for inspiration. With their mid-season iffy spell behind them Gigi Del Neri's men are ending the campaign like they started it, in mesmerising style. At present they're 4th, two points clear of Palermo, but the Sicilians could leapfrog Samp if they beat Milan on Saturday night.

The Blucerchiati have an exceedingly potent 'secret weapon' in the form of Antonio Cassano. The Bari brat would surely love to sabotage his old club's title challenge - he was a boyhood Inter supporter after all. Del Neri will also relish the opportunity for revenge after his ill-fated spell as Roma boss.

Samp's Pietro Accardi, Nicola Pozzi and Luca Castellazzi are injured whereas Roma have no fitness or suspension worries whatsoever.

The big question for Ranieri is whether to stick with the 4-3-3 that patently didn't work in the first half of the derby, or the 4-2-3-1 that helped them turn the game around. He's likely to go with the latter, but will that mean excluding Francesco Totti again?

Keep an eye on: Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria) - FantAntonio has scored decisive goals against Juventus, Chievo, Genoa and Milan lately and will be desperate to do likewise at the Olimpico, although curiously he hasn't scored against former employers Roma since returning to Serie A.

Last five in Serie A: Roma (W W W W W) Sampdoria (L D W W W)

Last season: Roma 2-0 Sampdoria

Roma (probable): Julio Sergio; Cassetti, Burdisso, Juan, Riise; Pizarro, De Rossi, Perrotta; Vucinic, Totti, Toni

Sampdoria (probable): Storari; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Semioli, Palombo, Poli, Guberti; Pazzini, Cassano

Ref: To follow

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sa0910/rom-sam.html

[Messinterista]

Roma 1-2 Sampdoria

Totti 14 (R), Pazzini 52, 85 (S)
Stadio Olimpico


Roma's Scudetto dream took a beating when Sampdoria came from behind with Giampaolo Pazzini's brace to win 2-1 at the Olimpico. It ends the 24-match unbeaten run and keeps the Blucerchiati in fourth.

Once again the Giallorossi played knowing Inter had already won, so only a victory would take back the top spot. It was further complicated by the fact Samp were in a similar boat, as Palermo's win recaptured fourth on Saturday. Antonio Cassano, Stefano Guberti and Coach Gigi Del Neri faced their former club, but Pietro Accardi and Nicola Pozzi were sidelined. Jeremy Menez was picked ahead of Luca Toni after the derby difficulties in handling that trident attack.

Menez had the first chance when chesting down an acrobatic Francesco Totti flick, forcing a save out of Marco Storari at the near post. From the resulting corner Juan's audacious overhead kick was just wide from six yards.

Mirko Vucinic skipped past two tackles down the left, but the pull-back was just too long for Totti. The move continued and Simone Perrotta's volley was well smothered by Storari.

Roma did break through after 14 minutes with their captain. Totti started and finished the move, combining with Vucinic down the left and carrying on into the box where he was able to side-foot home from eight yards. It was his first goal since January.

Cassano nodded over, but it was so nearly 2-0 as Vucinic's reverse ball found Totti unmarked to thump the upright with a touch from Storari.

Cassano was ready to equalise from close range, but Nicolas Burdisso threw himself at the ball to block the angled drive.

Storari got down to beat away a Menez strike and Totti volleyed the follow-up wide from an awkward position. Vucinic wanted a penalty for Luciano Zauri's handling offence, but he had chipped the ball up from very close range.

Vucinic and Menez exchanged several passes before the Frenchman fired wide, but Totti was unmarked and ignored at the back post. There was an odd moment just before half-time when Vucinic and Simone Perrotta were arguing over the Macedonian's refusal to pass, prompting Totti to step in and intervene.

Vucinic ran on to a through ball and flashed the angled drive across the face of goal. Storari seemed to get a hand to it, but the corner was not given.

Del Neri introduced both Fernando Tissone and Daniele Mannini for the second half. Tissone blasted over from distance, but it was Pazzini who got the goal for Sampdoria.

A chipped Cassano cross from the left found Pazzini relatively unmarked at the back post to nod in, as John Arne Riise left him with far too much space. and the header down went between Julio Sergio's legs.

Roma fought back immediately with dangerous headers from Menez and Juan. David Pizarro drilled wide and Menez struck the side-netting with a daisy-cutter.

Toni replaced Perrotta for the trident attack and nearly scored with his first touch! He got on the end of a Pizarro free kick at the back post and his header was well parried from point-blank range.

Toni did get the ball in the back of the net, but he was correctly flagged offside.

Vucinic sprinted from midfield on the counter and stayed on his feet after a tackle, but Storari pushed the ball off his foot. At the other end Julio Sergio was at full stretch to palm away a Franco Semioli strike.

Cassano limped off with cramp and it was now a Roma siege, as Storari fingertipped a Riise blockbuster over the bar.

However, Sampdoria struck on the counter-attack with Pazzini's second of the game. Daniele Mannini got down the left and rolled his cross low for Pazzini to tap in from close range, having got away from Riise.

Storari smothered a Daniele De Rossi strike in stoppages, but on the bench Philippe Mexes was spotted crying.

Roma: Julio Sergio; Cassetti (Taddei 74), Juan, Burdisso, Riise; Pizarro, De Rossi; Menez, Perrotta (Toni 67), Vucinic; Totti

Sampdoria: Storari; Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler; Semioli, Palombo, Poli (Tissone 46), Guberti (Mannini 46); Pazzini, Cassano (Testardi 80)

Ref: Damato

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sa0910/rom-sam.html

[maro]

Poor old Samp last night. It looked like they'd done enough until that bolt from the blue. Over the two legs, though, I think the better side went through and Samp looked terribly tired for the last 25 minutes so it seemed likely they weren't quite going to get over the line with 20 to go. The product, I imagine, of being just a tiny bit earlier in the season than Bremen. And losing one of their subs a minute after he'd come on to give them some new energy certainly didn't help either. One of Pazzini's goals had a terrible deja vu to it for a Romanista - Cassano hanging it up beyond the far post, Pazzini winning the header against the fullback, and the 'keeper not doing quite as well as he should have to guard his near post. Text-book Samp.

[mick]

I watched some of it (CL 24 August 2010) and Werder were certainly the stronger side in the second half. Samp looked out of it as though they had lost interest.

[maro]

Samp played very well in the first half, though, and might well have been another goal to the good at half-time. I just thought they faded from there and looked like they were running through treacle at times in the second half. It's pretty hard to get your conditioning just right when your league season hasn't even started but they certainly put up a brave fight.

[Carlo Romano]

Because of injuries and the turnover system, I didn't recognise a couple of the faces. Despite that, watching the way La Samp played the opening minutes of this match I reckoned I had chosen the best of the four featuring Italian clubs in the EL. When Cacciatore scored his beautiful headed goal off a pass by Koman, I even started to wonder if they could go on to an enjoyable away win.

Unfortunately from there it became more and more PSV attacking with Samp defending. Such a shame as I think they could with more adventure have gotten a second goal. Too much possession conceded. Any giallorossi reading this will expect me to mention Curci and possibly Guberti who was a late sub and didn't have a chance to really contribute.

Curci did nothing to make me change my opinion of him that he is a fine shot stopper, but until he learns to make sure he parries the ball out of harm's way, tries to catch more shots instead of punching, and just as importantly learns how to deal with high crossed balls, he undoes much of his praiseworthy work and commentators will always criticise him.

I'm disappointed that i doriani couldn't seal the away win but when you allow your opposition as much of the ball as PSV got, then the equaliser was always on...

[RomaShield27]

Cassano-Palombo bust up denied
Wednesday 22 September, 2010 - http://www.football-italia.net/sep22m.html?

Sampdoria have firmly denied reports that Antonio Cassano had a bust up with Angelo Palombo after Sunday's defeat to Napoli at Marassi.

Earlier this week, Il Corriere della Sera claimed Cassano and Palombo had a slanging match, one accusing the other of being at fault for Napoli's goals.

Sampdoria had taken the lead through Cassano with just 12 minutes to go only to lose 2-1 in incredible circumstances.

Cassano also apparently argued with Sampdoria general manager Sergio Gasparin and will not play against Cagliari this evening.

The Blucerchiati have so far denied excluding Cassano for disciplinary reasons, but it appears the player's past has caught up with him again.

Cassano has come a long way in the last two years, giving the impression that he has matured both on and off the pitch.

He was recently welcomed back into the international fold, but these reports will be of concern to Italy boss Cesare Prandelli.