Away struggles continue despite Gabbiadini wonder goal
Sampdoria fell to a first defeat under Claudio Ranieri on a sun-drenched afternoon at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and extended a poor away run in which the side has failed to pick up any points during visits to Reggio Emilia, Naples, Florence and Verona.
Doria went into the game knowing that a positive result against 13th-placed Bologna could see the team climb off the bottom of the table, but it was not our day.
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team were fast out the traps and nearly opened the scoring in the first few minutes when a dangerous low cross by Skov Olsen was met by Blerim Dzemaili at the back post, but his shot was blocked by Ronaldo Vieira.
Although Bologna piled on the pressure in the opening exchanges, Sampdoria did hit the post when Manolo Gabbiadini instinctively stuck out a leg to turn Fabio Quagliarella’s effort goalwards, Skorupski was helpless in the hosts’ goal and could only watch on as it struck the woodwork and came out.
Emil Audero was on hand just before half-time to make himself big to deny Palacio from close range after Roberto Soriano managed to squeeze a low cross in towards the Argentine.
The two sides went in goalless at half-time, with Claudio Ranieri deciding to ring the changes for the second half in a bid to mix things up, bringing on Fabio Depaoli and Albin Ekdal. Sampdoria started the second period well and Quagliarella found himself one-on-one with Skorupski from close range, but failed to find the right finish. Just moments later, the hosts took the lead through a sweeping counterattack that Rodrigo Palacio converted with a first-time shot.
Sampdoria did respond well and struck a brilliant equaliser through Manolo Gabbaidini’s pinpoint left-footed strike from outside the box with 64 minutes on the clock.
The hosts managed to restore their advantage with just 12 minutes left on the clock, after Mattia Bani stuck out a foot to divert a corner into the back of the net and clinch victory for the hosts.
The Blucerchiati will be looking to bounce back immediately on Wednesday evening at home to Lecce.
Bologna 2-1 Sampdoria
Scorers: Palacio 48, Gabbiadini 64, Bani 78
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Skorupski; Mbaye, Danilo, Bani, Krejci; Poli (Schouten 72), Dzemaili (Santander 67); Skov Olsen (Orsolini 55), Soriano, Sansone; Palacio.
Unused subs: Da Costa, Sarr, Denswil, Paz, Corbo, Juwara, Svanberg, Baldursson, Portanova.
Coach: Mihajlovic.
Sampdoria (4-4-2): Audero; Bereszynski, Murillo, Colley, Murru; Leris (Depaoli 46), Vieira, Bertolacci (Ekdal 46), Jankto (Caprari 62); Gabbiadini, Quagliarella.
Unused subs: Falcone, Avogadri, Augello, Chabot, Barreto, Bonazzoli, Rigoni, Ramírez, Ferrari.
Coach: Ranieri.
Referee: Doveri (Rome).
Assistants: Colarossi (Rome) and Muto (Torre Annunziata).
Fourth official: Abbattista (Molfetta).
VAR: Rocchi (Florence).
Assistant VAR: Bindoni (Venice).
Booked: Bereszynski 73, Murru 77, Schouten 83.
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes.
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