GENOA - It finished 1-0 to the hosts at the Marassi, courtesy of Eder's free-kick midway through the second half.
The Nerazzurri kept the ball well in the first period, as they looked to unlock the Sampdoria defence. 10 minutes in, the hosts went close to Handanovic's goal for the first time. Eder's ball forward was collected by Muriel who shot over. Inter had pace in the side, notably through Shaqiri. After a quarter of an hour, the Swiss attacked the space down the left and crossed towards Icardi. The Argentine made a good run but couldn't meet the ball as he would have liked.
Four minutes later, Eder was again the chief threat, this time drawing a save out of Handanovic with a low shot from range. The Nerazzurri then came forward with Shaqiri who escaped down the left and whipped in a good-looking ball but Regini headed the ball to safety with Icardi lurking.
After that, Eto'o found Eder but the man who was included in the Italy squad shot over. At the end of the half Icardi evaded Romagnoli's challenge and tried to repeat his strike against Cagliari, albeit this time without success.
The visitors came charging out of the blocks after the break. Icardi struck the angle of post and bar inside the first minute of the second half. Shaqiri collected the rebound but failed to find the target. Inter then came to life and Guarin tested Viviano from outside the area. Shaqiri cut inside on 55 minutes and looked to bend the ball into the far corner: just wide. Mancini's men created another opportunity through Icardi from a Guarin pass yet Maurito's shot lacked accuracy.
Just when the Nerazzurri were really putting in the hard work, just when they deserved to take the lead, Sampdoria broke the deadlock. Eder produced a terrific free-kick from 30 yards and left Handanovic with no chance. It was a big setback with 25 minutes to play.
Sampdoria nearly doubled their lead from another Eder set-piece. Inter tried to react with Palacio and Camara coming on late in the game to try and force an equaliser. The Nerazzurri nearly levelled on 92 minutes as Icardi diverted D'Ambrosio's cross shot. But it wasn't to be, Viviano got down well and put the ball behind for a corner.
Sampdoria 1-0 Inter (HT: 0-0)
Scorer: Eder 65.
Sampdoria: 2 Viviano; 29 De Silvestri, 26 Silvestre, 5
Romagnoli, 19 Regini; 30 Acquah (Obiang 51), 17 Palombo, 21 Soriano
(Duncan 80); 23 Eder, 99 Eto'o, 24 Muriel (Okaka 65).
Subs not used: 33 Romero, 88 Frison, 3 Mesbah, 6
Duncan, 8 Correa, 9 Okaka, 14 Obiang, 18 Bergessio, 25 Coda, 27
Djordjevic, 32 Marchionni, 77 Wszolek.
Coach: Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 23 Ranocchia, 15
Vidic, 5 Juan Jesus; 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic (Palacio 76); 91
Shaqiri; 11 Podolski (Camara 87), 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 6 Andreolli, 8 Palacio, 10
Kovacic, 14 Campagnaro, 20 Obi, 26 Felipe, 28 Puscas, 29 Camara, 88
Hernanes, 93 Dimarco, 97 Bonazzoli.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Booked: Soriano, Romagnoli, Shaqiri, Vidic, Juan Jesus, D'Ambrosio, Icardi, Medel, Eder.
Referee: Valeri.
Assistants: Posado & Marzaloni.
Fourth official: Tasso.
Additional assistants: Guida & Gavillucci.
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