U.C. SAMPDORIA

[D-Kin]

2' Livorno have begun well in their match with Sampdoria. They are making the early running.

[D-Kin]

HT 0-0.

[D-Kin]

73' Filippini puts Livorno ahead against Samp!!! He goes absolutely wild! His 10th goal in 236 Serie A games. Castellazzi made two good reaction saves after a set piece, but could do nothing about Filippini's shot on the second rebound.

[Forza_Roma]

Good that Lucarelli didn't score

[Forza_Roma]

FT 1-0 Livorno

[Forza_Roma]

Thankfully no Lucarelli goals!

Serie A Week 36 - 13/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Livorno 1 - 0 Sampdoria
Filippini 72 (L)
Stadio Picchi

Antonio Filippini's lone strike propelled Livorno up the standings and ended the Blucerchiati's European dreams.

The Amaranto had lost their last three on the trot and were not yet safe from relegation, while Samp still had a UEFA Cup spot to aim for, but with Bastrini, Emiliano Bonazzoli, Fabio Bazzani and the suspended Francesco Flachi out, had precious few options upfront.

Sampdoria had never won here in Serie A, managing just three draws and two defeats. In the opening 60 seconds Cristiano Lucarelli drilled just wide of the top corner.

Emanuele Manitta rushed forward to clear from Parola with his feet and the first real shot on target saw Luca Castellazzi smother a Lucarelli strike.

Castellazzi flapped a dangerous cross off the head of Lucarelli, but there were few real scoring opportunities.

Stefano Fiore turned an acrobatic but inaccurate attempt over the bar in the second half, then both Antonio Filippini and Lucarelli couldn't get the final touch to a David Balleri cross.

On the hour mark Livorno finally went close as Lucarelli's looping header skimmed the far post.

The deadlock was broken on 72 minutes at the end of a long and hard-fought move. Castellazzi managed two fantastic saves to keep out Dario Passoni's volley and the Filippini follow-up, but the ex-Lazio midfielder beat him at the third attempt.

Livorno: Manitta; Grandoni, Pavan, Galante; Balleri (Paulinho 66), A Filppini, Morrone, Passoni, Pasquale (Pfertzel 87); Fiore (Coppola 75); Lucarelli

Sampdoria: Castellazzi; Maggio, Accardi, Falcone, Pieri; Volpi; Olivera (Delvecchio 70), Palombo, Parola (Franceschini 58), Ziegler (Zenoni 46); Quagliarella

Ref: Rizzoli

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 37 - 20/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Sampdoria - CataniaStadio FerrarisCatania will be hoping that Sampdoria start their summer holiday early when they take on the Blucerchiati at Marassi. The Sicilian outfit are currently just two points off the relegation zone, but they know that a win here would virtually ensure their place in Serie A next term, while Samp have already secured mid-table mediocrity for yet another season.

Walter Novellino’s side had looked set to mount a serious campaign for a UEFA Cup place this term, but their failure to display any sort of consistency has cost them dear. Their latest defeat, a 1-0 setback against Livorno, proved to be the final nail in their European coffin. As a result of the whingeing from the Doria faithful about their underachieving, it also seems likely that Novellino will depart the club in the summer after he recently hit out at the fans’ expectations.

From Catania’s point of view, their trip to Genoa couldn’t have come at a better time. Aside from the natives being restless, the Elefanti are starting to put some form together and have lost just once in the last five games. They’ve also got a striker with the Midas touch, as Gionatha Spinesi has gone on an impressive scoring run to take him up to 17 goals for the campaign. But as long as the sides around them keep picking up results, then it’s imperative that Catania do the same to ensure that they don’t head straight back into Serie B.

Coach Pasquale Marino is boosted by a couple of returning players. Giorgio Lucenti missed the 1-1 draw with Milan through suspension, but he is now back at the disposal of his tactician. Argentine youngster Mariano Izco is likely to be the man to miss out, while Spinesi and Giuseppe Mascara will complete the attacking trident. In defence, Gennaro Sardo is expected to miss out at right-back as Cristian Silvestri is tipped to return to the side.

Despite picking up seven points from their last four games, it won’t be enough for Sampdoria to book a place on the continent next season. Nonetheless, Coach Novellino is not expected to give some of the lesser lights in his squad a chance in what is a meaningless game for his side, which is a credit to the tactician as the other seven clubs battling with Catania to beat the drop wouldn’t appreciate the Sicilian side being given a free ride.

Reto Ziegler’s hopes of making his loan deal from Tottenham permanent seem to be growing slimmer by the day, especially with Daniele Franceschini tipped to take his place in the starting XI on the left flank. There is also likely to be a change on the opposite side too, as Ruben Olivera is expected to make way for Gennarro Delvecchio. After playing for Italy earlier this season, things have steadily gone downhill for the 29-year-old. Sums up Samp’s season…

Man on fire: Gionatha Spinesi (Catania) – Life is treating the Elefanti ace well, with a five-game scoring streak and the birth of his daughter Giada last week.

Last season: Not played

Form guide: Sampdoria (L W W D L) Catania (D W D L D)
Sampdoria (probable): Castellazzi; Maggio, Falcone, Accardi, Pieri; Volpi; Delvecchio, Palombo, Parola, Franceschini; Quagliarella
Catania (probable): Pantanelli; Silvestri, Stovini, Cesar, Vargas; Baiocco, Edusei, Caserta; Lucenti, Spinesi, Mascara
Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Sampdoria will be tough to beat at home, Catania have it all to do.

[Forza_Roma]

Catania need a result. I think they will draw.

[Forza_Roma]

HT 0-0

[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Samp. Goal by Franschechini

[Forza_Roma]

Catania and Chievo next week will be a great game!

Serie A Week 37 - 20/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Sampdoria 1 - 0 Catania
Zenoni 65 (S)
Stadio Ferraris

Cristian Zenoni took advantage of a goalkeeping howler, as Catania will have to leave to down to the wire to secure their Serie A status.

Walter Novellino saluted Marassi with his final match in the stadium, as it is all but certain he will end his five-year tenure at Sampdoria this summer. Fabio Bazzani also waved goodbye, having signed for Livorno. Catania weren't yet safe from the drop, though, so had the motivation to get a surprise result in Genoa.

Fabio Quagliarella's header and a Franceschini effort were comfortably smothered, then on 19 minutes Sergio Volpi pounced on a Lorenzo Stovini error, but Gennaro Delvecchio thumped the base of the upright from seven yards.

Luca Castellazzi flew to fingertip Davide Baiocco's powerful half-volley out from under the crossbar.

Catania had penalty appeals before the break for an Accardi handling offence from Sardo's centre.

Sampdoria broke through thanks to a goalkeeping howler from Armando Pantanelli on 65 minutes. Cristian Zenoni drilled low towards the near post, but the ball squirmed under the Catania man's body.

Luca Castellazzi had to keep his team in front soon after, performing a fantastic save on Giuseppe Mascara from point-blank range. Moments later Accardi was caught napping and Gionatha Spinesi's effort denied by Castellazzi.

The Blucerchiati goalkeeper was under siege and denied a Mascara volley set up by Spinesi.

Samp tried to take advantage of the extra space with Quagliarella's counter-attack closed down.

But Castellazzi was called again to block Cesar's header from a corner kick.

Sampdoria: Castellazzi; Zenoni, Accardi, Falcone, Pieri; Maggio, Palombo, Volpi (Arnulfo 90), Delvecchio (Ziegler 55), Franceschini (Sala 73); Quagliarella

Catania: Pantanelli; Sardo (Silvestri 61), Cesar, Stovini, Vargas; Baiocco, Edusei, Caserta; Izco (Corona 67), Spinesi (Rossini 83), Mascara

Ref: Stefanini

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Newly appointed Sampdoria boss Walter Mazzarri is looking forward to the challenge of leading the one-time Italian champions.

The former Reggina tactician was officially unveiled to the media on Tuesday and he’s delighted with his two-year deal.

“I am very happy to be here and I hope I will be able to concentrate only on my job as a Coach,” said Mazzarri.

“This is a prestigious and serious club. I decided to come here not only for this reason, but also because I feel that there is great organisation and respect for everyone’s role.

“I will only take care of the technical aspects, all the rest does not depend on me and I believe this is very important.

“Our priority for next season remains Serie A, although we will take part in the Intertoto tournament which will represent an important test.”

Moving on to squad matters, the former Livorno boss is keeping his fingers crossed that Sergio Volpi will remain rather than follow Torino-bound Coach Walter Novellino out of the club.

“I like Volpi a lot and I hope he will not leave,” added the tactician. “I would like to have at least two alternatives for each role and a squad with 18 players.

“I want to work hard as I did with Reggina last season when we obtained an historical result,” concluded the Blucerchiato.

General director Beppe Marotta confirmed that the club intends to keep Volpi and is also hoping that Fabio Quagliarella will not leave town either.

“Angelo Palombo and Volpi are our starting points,” explained the official.

“Another player we would like to keep is Quagliarella and we hope to renew his co-ownership deal with Udinese.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Andrea Caracciolo has left Palermo after Sampdoria netted him in a co-ownership deal this afternoon.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Isolani from Brescia in 2005, failed to impress last season and had already publicly revealed that he would be leaving Sicily this summer.

“Palermo and Sampdoria have agreed to a co-ownership deal for footballer Andrea Caracciolo,” read a note posted on Sampdoria’s website.

Caracciolo, who was also a reported target for Torino and Liverpool in recent times, started his career in Serie D with Sancolombano, before moving on to Como and Pro Vercelli.

He made his Serie A debut with Brescia in 2002 and spent the 2002-03 season on loan at Perugia.

The ‘Heron’ earned his maiden call-up with the Nazionale in 2004 and was recalled by Roberto Donadoni last summer for the friendly with Croatia.

The striker had hoped to take full advantage of the opportunity offered by Amauri’s injury before the Christmas break, but only managed to score five Serie A goals last season with the Rosanero.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]