Ten-man Sampdoria beaten by Bologna

There was more frustration for Marco Giampaolo on Wednesday evening as his Sampdoria side slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Bologna’s Stadio Dall’Ara.

Samp began the match well, dominating possession and setting about breaking down a well-organised Bologna backline.

There was not much in the way of real chances in the opening stages, though Dennis Praet showed flashes of real talent and Luis Muriel looked his usual impish self.

Samp had a good shout for a penalty on 34 minutes, Praet scuttling into the box and going down under pressure from Gastaldello only for the referee to wave play on.

But Bologna began to come into the game soon afterwards, as Dzemaili unleashed a sighter before Krejci saw a close-range shot blocked by Skriniar.

It looked to be heading for a 0-0 scoreline at half time, but there was to be a sting in the tail for Samp as Simone Verdi smashed home a spectacular volleyed effort from the right-hand side of the box for 1-0.

It was a big blow for Giampaolo’s side, but there was worse to come just a few minutes into the second 45. The dangerous Krejci set off on a menacing run down the left, spying Mattia Destro in the box and firing in a pinpoint cross for the Italian to sweep home and double Bologna’s lead.

Giampaolo rang the changes, sending on Schick and Cigarini for Quagliarella and Torreira, and it almost sparked a Samp comeback as first Praet and then Skriniar came close to making it 2-1.

Yet lady luck has scarcely smiled on Samp this season, and any hopes of a comeback were all but extinguished on 69 minutes as Edgar Barreto received a straight red card for a hefty challenge on Nagy.

Giampaolo was forced to replace Muriel with Bruno Fernandes to restore some balance to his side, and though the move shored Samp up it left them with little goal threat up front.

With Bologna’s numerical advantage there for all to see, the home side promptly took hold of the game, bringing the tempo down and keeping Samp chasing shadows into added time.

There was a late red card for Di Francesco after a reckless challenge on Linetty, but when Bruno Fernandes’ resultant free kick cannoned clean back of the crossbar it was clear that it wasn’t going to be Samp’s day.

Bologna 2-0 Sampdoria (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Verdi 45, Destro 50.

Bologna (4-3-3): Da Costa; Torosidis, Gastaldello, Maietta, Masina (Morleo 66); Taider, Nagy (Pulgar 79), Dzemaili; Verdi, Destro, Krejci (Di Francesco 73).
Subs not used: Ravaglia, Sarr, Oikonomu, Mounier, Mbaye, Donsah, Helander, Rizzo, Floccari.
Coach: Roberto Donadoni.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Viviano; Pereira, Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto, Torreira (Cigarini 53), Linetty; Praet; Quagliarella (Schick 53), Muriel (Fernandes 73).
Subs not used: Puggioni, Krapikas, Amuzie, Dodô, Eramo, Krajnc, Palombo, Djuricic, Budimir.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Referee: Calvarese.
Assistants: Dobosz, Tolfo.
Fourth official: Gava.
Additional assistants: Maresca, Illuzzi.

Yellow cards: Verdi 27, Pereira 67, Praet 87, Linetty 89.
Red cards: Barreto 69, Di Francesco 90+2.

Added time: 1 + 4 mins.