GENOA – Inter slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Sampdoria on Sunday night as Fabio Quagliarella’s first-half strike proved decisive at Marassi.
In a pulsating encounter, the veteran Italian slotted home from close range to give Marco Giampaolo’s side the lead in the 44th minute. Inter threw everything at Sampdoria after the break, but they were unable to find an equaliser despite Rodrigo Palacio being denied by the bar deep in added time.
The match began at a dizzying pace, with Quagliarella enjoying the first sight on goal as he was found by Barreto only to drag his shot wide of the post on seven minutes. Five minutes later, Bruno Fernandes found Luis Muriel on the left side of the box, but the Colombian also failed to hit the target.
With Inter struggling to create any meaningful chances, Samp won a corner on the half-hour mark. Edgar Barreto stole a march on the Nerazzurri defence, nipping in at the near post and smashing a smart volley off the near post.
The thwack of the woodwork seemed to jolt Inter into life, as Antonio Candreva stung Christian Puggioni’s palms on a couple of occasions. Marcelo Brozovic then got in on the act, leaving Milan Skriniar on his behind as he cut in on his left but fired over the bar from close range.
Frank de Boer’s men were clearly growing into the contest, but it was then that Samp found their breakthrough. Karol Linetty picked out Quagliarella in the box with a precise pass, the Italian lashing his shot past Samir Handanovic and into the back of the net for 1-0.
Inter began the second half in a hurry, Eder blazing over the bar after just 21 seconds’ play, but the frustration continued for the Nerazzurri. Candreva and Eder were supplying plenty of crosses, but the isolated – and surrounded – Mauro Icardi was unable to turn them into proper sights at goal.
Icardi’s best chance of the match came on 67 minutes: Brozovic dinked over an inch-perfect cross, but the captain’s header deflected off his shoulder and looped harmlessly over, the goal gaping.
De Boer threw on Palacio and Perisic as Inter went in search of their goal, and the Argentine striker was mere centimetres away from salvaging a point for his side in the first minute of stoppage time only for the crossbar to deny him.
It proved to be Inter’s final chance of the game, as the final whistle brought a frustrating evening to a disappointing end.
SAMPDORIA 1-0 INTER (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Quagliarella 44.
SAMPDORIA: 1 Puggioni; 22 Sala, 26 Silvestre, 37 Skriniar, 19 Regini; 8 Barreto, 34 Torreira, 16 Linetty; 10 Fernandes; 27 Quagliarella (Budimir 77), 9 Muriel (Alvarez 88).
Subs not used: 12 Krapikas, 92 Tozzo, 3 Amuzie, 6 Eramo, 13 Pereira, 14 Schick, 15 Krajnc, 18 Praet, 21 Cigarini, 23 Djuricic.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 15 Ansaldi, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 21 Santon; 77 Brozovic, 6 Joao Mario, 19 Banega; 87 Candreva (Palacio 75), 9 Icardi, 23 Eder (Perisic 75).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 2 Andreolli, 11 Biabiany, 13 Ranocchia, 27 Gnoukouri, 33 D'Ambrosio, 55 Nagatomo, 95 Miangue.
Coach: Frank de Boer.
Yellow cards: Ansaldi 74, Miranda 75, Joao Mario 82, Sala 83.
Added time: 1 + 3 minutes.
Referee: Mazzoleni.
Assistants: Marrazzo, Peretti.
Fourth official: Paganessi.
Additional assistants: Guida, Mariani.
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