Samp rise from the ashes to beat Atalanta: Caprari and Zapata the heroes

In one of the hardest and most important matches of their season, Samp bounced back. Coming off three straight losses the team flipped the script on Atalanta, turning in a vital performance to take all three points home with them to Genoa.

In what may yet prove to be a season-defining win, Samp showed their fight, scrapping tooth and nail for every ball. Two touches of class, in particular, helped to lift the team. First it was Caprari, whose delicate touch and quick finish opened the scoring, before Zapata rounded things off with a crafty chip over the oncoming keeper. We were wounded, but far from finished: the coach was right.

Injuries, illness and suspensions had all affected the line-up available to Giampaolo, and so he decided to shake things up. Ferrari came back in for Regini, while both Andersen and Capezzi made their debuts. Alvarez was the link between midfield and attack, providing service to the partnership of Caprari and Zapata up front. Silvestre was named to the bench, while Quagliarella watched from the stands.

The start of the match was a cagey one, with the two sides relatively balanced for the first 15 minutes. Then a flash from Castagne threatened to shatter the equilibrium: the Belgian may have been a shade offside, but his break found him one on one with Viviano, before his finish let him down. It was a lucky break for us, and we were still struggling to cause problems for Atalanta’s keeper Berisha. The home side was growing with the passing minutes and came close again with ex-Samp Petagna, who shook the crossbar on the 38^th minutes from a corner by Gomez.

Before the first half was over the Blucerchiati had already been forced into their first change: Alvarez came out in pain, replaced by Ramirez. The game had its first twist in store on the 43^rd minute, as Praet’s ball for Bereszynski, deflected by Castagne, and then missed by Toloi, fell at last to Caprari, who took advantage, scoring with a left-footed shot for his fifth goal of the season. Doria were a goal up and came close again before the break, nearly doubling their advantage through Ramirez, whose free-kick was kept out by Berisha.

The Nerazzurri came out of the break with a point to prove: on the 49^th minute Hateboer came storming down the right and crossed to Petagna, whose shot couldn’t make it past the Samp defenders. Under the pouring rain Samp responded on the 54^th minute with a chance of their own, as Caprari was put through on goal by Bereszynski. This time, though, the number 9 couldn’t finish off the chance. Gasperini brought on Hass and Barrow for De Roon and Hateboer, while Giampaolo countered with Regini, coming on in Murru’s place. It was Barrow himself who, from a free-kick on the 67^th, headed the ball on to Toloi, who was in the right place to guide home the equaliser. Samp’s reaction to the equaliser was immediate, but unfortunately Zapata’s finish from Praet’s cross was stopped first by Berisha, then the linesman.

The lads didn’t let their heads drop and continued to work hard. On the 73^rd Haas was barely able to stop Caprari on the goal-line, cries of joy dying in the throats of Samp fans and players. History repeated itself on the 81^st minute when Capezzi picked out Caprari, whose shot cannoned off the bar. This was quickly followed by a scare of Samp’s own, in the form of Regini’s pass back to Viviano, but all was forgiven when Haas switched offf and let Zapata steal past him for the winner.

Time passed minute by nervy minute, but somehow, under a downpour of crosses and attempts by the home side we were able to hold on. At the final whistle, the team celebrated as one. This was the result we needed, the one that shows us that now is not the moment to give up: there are European spots to fight for. With pride and determination Samp can hold up its head once more, the best possible way to prepare us for next Saturday.

Atalanta 1- 2  Sampdoria (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Caprari 26, Toloi 67, Zapata 83.
Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Berisha; Toloi, Mancini, Masiello; Hateboer (Barrow 64), De Roon (Haas 67), Freuler, Castagne; Cristante; Petagna (Cornelius 79), A. Gómez.
Subs not used: Gollini, Rossi, Palomino, Gosens, Caldara, Melegoni, Bastoni.
Coach: Gasperini.

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Viviano; Bereszynski, Andersen, Ferrari, Murru (Regini 66); Praet, Capezzi, Linetty; Alvarez (Ramirez 40); Zapata, Caprari (Verre 85).
Subs not used: Belec, Tozzo, Sala, Stijepovic, Regini, Silvestre, Tessiore.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Referee: Pasqua (Tivoli).
Assistant Referees: Di Iorio (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) and Tolfo (Pordenone).
Fourth Man: Di Paolo (Avezzano).
VAR: Fabbri (Ravenna).
VAR Assistant: Piccinini (Forlì).

Yellow cards: Petagna 79, A. Gómez 82, Praet 83, Zapata 90, Ramírez 90+2
Added time: 2 + 3 minutes