Quagliarella and Alvarez soften the blow as Napoli run out winners
We all would have hoped for a different end to this season and certainly deserved something slightly more positive. Unfortunately for Sampdoria, they were up against one of the strongest teams in the league, as Napoli demonstrated their superiority at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
The visitors remained in third place after Roma defeated Genoa, while Samp will need to see how other results pan out to know whether tenth spot is secured.
The Blucerchiati, who were donning their new kit for the 2017/18 season, were put under pressure from the outset against Napoli.
Dries Mertens, Jorginho and Jose Callejon all tested the reflexes of Christian Puggioni within the first 20 minutes. Samp had an effort of their own on 22 minutes, but Bruno Fernandes was unable to find the target.
Mertens showed a sharper cutting edge on 36 minutes, giving Napoli the lead with a volley from just outside the box while the Doria keeper was off his line.
The visitors’ second was even more pleasing on the eye, as Lorenzo Insigne drove down the left hand side before launching a high accurate finish over Puggioni, giving Napoli a 2-0 lead heading into half time.
Things did not get a whole lot better for Doria in the second period. Marek Hamsik was given the easiest of chances less than four minutes in. Mertens’ cross was headed back across goal by Callejon and the Slovak duly converted to make it 3-0
Samp did well to hit back just moments later. Patrik Schick’s ball into the box was helped home by Fabio Quagliarella, who bagged his 108th Serie A goal. However, any lingering hope was short-lived as Callejon smashed a fine volley past Puggioni to give the Partenopei their fourth of the game, after 65 minutes.
Ricky Alvarez, who came on in place of Edgar Barreto, made the score line more respectable as the match drew to a close. Samp’s 2016/17 campaign may have ended on a sourer note that fans would have hoped, but that should not take away from what has been a positive season for the Blucerchiati.
Sampdoria 2-4 Napoli
Scorers: Mertens 36, Insigne 42, Hamsik 49, Quagliarella 50, Callejon 65, Alvarez 90.
Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Puggioni; Bereszynski, Silvestre, Skriniar, Regini; Barreto (Alvarez 77), Torreira (Palombo 66), Linetty; Fernandes (Praet 53); Quagliarella, Schick.
Subs not used: Krapikas, Hutvagner, Simic, Dodô, Cigarini, Djuricic, Budimir.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.
Napoli (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Chiriches, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Zielinski (Rog 67), Jorginho (Diawara 71), Hamsik (Giaccherini 84); Callejon, Mertens, Insigne.
Subs not used: Rafael, Sepe, Strinic, Maggio, Leandrinho, Zerbin, Albiol, Tonelli, Milik.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
Referee: Banti (Livorno).
Assistants: Costanzo (Orvieto) and Valeriani (Ravenna).
Fourth official: Tonolini (Milan).
Additional assistants: Irrati (Pistoia) and Giacomelli (Trieste).
Yellow cards: Skriniar 53.
Added time: 1 + 3 minutes.
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