Samp held to 0-0 draw after Atalanta keep the door shut

Sampdoria were made to settle for a point on Sunday as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Atalanta at Marassi. It was the first time Sampdoria – who have the fifth-most prolific attack in Serie A – have failed to score in 11 games.

Vincenzo Montella started with an attacking duo of Quagliarella and Cassano, who were lining up together for the very first time, while Joaquin Correa was deployed in behind to complete a forward-thinking Doria line-up.

Atalanta started brightly without creating any real chances, and indeed it was Cassano who produced the first spark of the match, drawing a good save from Sportiello. Samp showed good attacking intent throughout the first half, keeping it tight at the back and threatening through first Soriano and then Ranocchia. Quagliarella lashed a powerful shot over with time ticking on, but parity prevailed at the break.

The second half began with two unchanged elevens and Samp attacking the Curva Sud. Dodo had the first chance of the half, drawing a save from Sportiello after Cassani’s cross from the right. It was a hard-fought battle, but in truth chances were few and far between, with both managers turning to the substitutes’ bench for inspiration.

One such sub – Ricky Alvarez, on for Cassano – had a great chance to win it at the death, but his header came to nothing and with it the Blucerchiati’s hopes of getting the three points.

Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta

Sampdoria (3-4-1-2): Viviano; Cassani, Ranocchia, Silvestre; Ivan, Soriano (Barreto 86), Fernando, Dodo; Correa (Muriel 74); Cassano (Alvarez 60), Quagliarella.
Subs not used: Puggioni, Brignoli, Rodriguez, Pereira, Palombo, Christodoulopoulos, Krsticic, Skriniar.
Coach: Vincenzo Montella.

Atalanta (4-3-3): Sportiello; A. Conti, Toloi, Masiello, Dramé; Freuler (Cigarini 58), De Roon, Kurtic; Diamanti (Raimondi 80), Pinilla (Borriello 65), A. Gómez.
Subs not used: Bassi, Stendardo, Gagliardini, D’Alessandro, Migliaccio, Gakpé, Brivio, Cherubin, Monachello.
Coach: Edoardo Reja.

Referee: Damato (Barletta).
Assistants: Posado (Bari), Stallone (Foggia).
Fourth official: Vivenzi (Brescia).
Additional officials: Valeri (Roma 2), Aureliano (Bologna).

Yellow cards: De Roon 26, Ivan 30, Diamanti 76, A. Gómez 78, Borreillo 80;

Added time: 1 + 5 mins.

Season-ticket holders: 19,114 (152.366 Euros).
Match-day tickets holders: 1227 (22,755 Euros).

Playing surface: good condition.