Samp fail to crack Genoa catenaccio as derby ends goalless

Sampdoria were forced to settle for a point from the Derby della Lanterna as Genoa succeeded in frustrating Marco Giampaolo’s side for 90 minutes.

It was nearly all one-way traffic in the 116th league meeting between these two sides but ultimately the Blucerchiati were unable to break through the Rossoblu’s stubborn defensive lines.

Giampaolo was forced to make his first substitution after just seven minutes with Nicola Murru unable to continue and Vasco Regini coming on in his place, but the first half was largely uneventful in terms of chances.

Samp upped the pressure after the break with Lucas Torreira firing narrowly wide before another enforced substitution, this time on the opposite flank, as Bartosz Bereszynski came on for Jacopo Sala.

Genoa meanwhile went even more defensive as Davide Ballardini took off a striker, Goran Pandev, and replaced him with a midfielder, Isaac Cofie.

The Blucerchiati continued to probe for a way through and Gianluca Caprari went close on a couple of occasions midway through the half, only to see both efforts blocked.

He was offered a third bite at the cherry with 10 minutes left on the clock after Mattia Perin beat away Karol Linetty’s fierce drive but he couldn’t get enough power on it to trouble the keeper.

Genoa were up in arms when Luca Rigoni went down under supposed contact from Emiliano Viviano but he was offside anyway.

Fabio Quagliarella saw a late effort deflected into the side netting as Doria huffed and puffed but ultimately had to take a point.

The draw means Samp were unable to secure what would have been a record fourth consecutive derby victory but it at least keeps them in the hunt for a European place with seven games left to play.

Sampdoria 0-0 Genoa

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Viviano; Bereszynski (Sala 51), Silvestre, Ferrari, Murru (Regini 10); Praet, Torreira, Linetty; Caprari (Ramirez 81); Quagliarella, Zapata.
Subs not used: Belec, Tozzo, Andersen, Barreto, Alvarez, Strinic, Verre, Capezzi, Kownacki.
Coach: Giampaolo.

Genoa (3-5-2): Perin; Biraschi, Spolli, Zukanovic; Pereira, L. Rigoni, Bertolacci, Hiljemark, Laxalt; Lapadula (Galabinov 88), Pandev (Cofie 61).
Subs not used: Lamanna, Zima, Taarabt, Rossettini, Migliore, Lazovic, Bessa, Omeonga, Medeiros, G. Rossi.
Coach: Ballardini.

Referee: Massa (Imperia).
Assistants: Di Fiore (Aosta) and Alassio (Imperia).
Fourth official: Banti (Livorno).
VAR: Orsato (Schio).
VAR assistant: Vivenzi (Brescia).

Booked: Pandev 24, Bereszynski 90+1, Rigori 90+1.
Added time: 2+2 minutes.
Attendance: 13,694 season-ticket holders (€146,311 euro), 16,423 match tickets (€511,210).