Sampdoria and Genoa contested one of the biggest matches in Italian football on Sunday evening – the Derby della Lanterna.
Hosts Samp headed into the clash at the Marassi with just one point from two matches in Serie A this season, while their visitors were third from bottom in the league having lost both of their opening games.
However, it was Genoa who bagged maximum points from the derby, thanks to goals from Luca Antonini, Emanuele Calaio and Francesco Lodi.
Read how the match unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Derby della Lanterna between Sampdoria and Genoa. It is a Week 3 Serie A clash and it promises to be an entertaining contest, so stay tuned on this page to catch all the action live from the Marassi.
Sampdoria are technically the hosts tonight, but both sides share the same stadium for their matches, so Genoa will not be daunted anyhow. This is historically one of Italy’s biggest derbies and there should be fireworks tonight.
Without much ado, here are the lineups of the two teams from the teamsheet for tonight’s Genoa derby...
SAMPDORIA XI: Da Costa; Gastaldello, Palombo, Costa; De Silvestri, Bjarnason, Krsticic, Obiang, Regini; Eder, Gabbiadini
GENOA XI: Perin; Gamberini, Portanova, Manfredini; Vrsaliko, Biondini, Lodi, Matuzalem, Antonini; Gilardino, Calaio
Sampdoria will have a familiar face in Eder supporting Manolo Gabbiadini in attack, while Birkir Bjarnason has got the nod ahead of Renan in the starting lineup.
Meanwhile, for Genoa, Alberto Gilardino and Emanuele Calaio are the two forwards. Luca Antonelli misses the contest with a sprained ankle and Mario Sampirisi is suspended.
Heading into tonight’s derby, Genoa find themselves third from bottom in Serie A with no point from their opening two matches, while Sampdoria have collected just one. It is early days, but the signs are there that these two teams could struggle as the season further unfolds.
The build-up to tonight’s match has been absolutely wild and bizarre. First there was the risk of a thunderstorm that has been looming over Genoa for a number of hours and could have forced the Italian football authorities to postpone the match. The stadium is actually prone to flooding.
And then there were the spy stories and the camouflage. Yes, ‘spy stories’! Sampdoria caught Genoa youth team players in full camouflage and hiding in the bushes to spy on the hosts’ training session, evidently to send back information to the senior team. Genoa claimed that Sampdoria have also been involved in spying, alleging that they spotted journalists affiliated to their opponents in a high-rise building with binoculars looking at their training session behind closed doors.
And you thought that Italian football have lost its spice! No, it’s still very much there as we will soon find out in tonight’s Derby della Lanterna. Kickoff is just over 10 minutes away and we will bring you all the action as it happens live here on this page.
As we eagerly await the start of the contest, let’s hear from both camps. First up is Sampdoria defender Vasco Regini: “We will give our all to win. Sunday is going to be important for me, for the team and for the fans. The tension is normal. I see it as a positive for the game. Everyone who joins this club knows from day one what the derby means.''
Genoa coach Fabio Liverani: “We want to bounce back immediately from our slow start to the season. The derby is not like any other game, we know how much this means for our fans and for the players. We need to be more united as a team. We need to be more aggressive and determined.''
Five minutes to kickoff at the Marassi as both sides must be looking forward to what should be a fascinating encounter. This is one of the biggest derbies in Italian football and of European football as well.
The two sets of players are about to come out onto the pitch. The playing surface is now pretty decent but visibility is really limited.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Marassi as hosts Sampdoria kick off proceedings...
There has been a slowish start to the match here, but I am sure that it is going to pick up pace soon. Visibility is clearing up now and things are looking on the up.
And things have picked up pace! Eder goes on a rampaging run down the left and gets past two players, but he is then dispossessed.
The fouls have already started to crop up as wonted in a Genoa derby. Hosts Samp are slightly on the front foot as Lorenzo De Silvestri tries to make a run down the right flank but is halted in his tracks before he can become a real danger.
Good run down the middle from Pedro Obiang as he tries to send Citadin Eder through, but the forward is caught offside.
GOAL! Sampdoria 0-1 Genoa (Luca Antonini)
What a start from Genoa, scoring with virtually their first meaningful attack of the match! A surging movement down the right flank ends up with a cross drilled by Davide Biondini into the Samp penalty box and Luca Antonini scores on his debut for Genoa.
The ‘away’ fans are in loud voice at the moment having watched their side take the lead much against the run of play. Sampdoria must be stunned by conceding that goal and need to respond quickly.
CHANCE! Good block from Daniele Portanova on an effort from Manolo Gabbiadini to send the ball out for a corner. It was a well-worked move from the hosts as well but it ends in a corner, which in turn, ends in Genoa clearing away the ball.
Fifteen minutes gone in the contest and it is Genoa who have the lead. Much of the contest so far has taken place inside their own half, but they have the crucial lead. However, Sampdoria are pressing on for the equaliser and are looking more assured and creative on the ball whenever they have it.
YELLOW CARD Thomas Manfredini receives the first yellow card of the match for grabbing Manolo Gabbiadini as he was about to make a run for Obiang’s through-ball.
We can expect some more yellow cards as the match progresses and we could well see a sending-off (or two!). The Genoa derby has proved to be explosive in the past – full of passion and real intent to win each and every tackle and challenge.
YELLOW CARD The second yellow card of the contest is now show and it goes to Vasco Regini for a late challenge on Manfredini. So one apiece in terms of yellow cards but 1-0 to Genoa.
CHANCE! Brilliant move from Obiang again as he lifts a ball over the top of the Genoa defence and through to Regini, but he is quickly dispossessed and the visitors avoid any danger of conceding.
Another Sampdoria player is now but no yellow card has been brandished now. Alessandro Gamberini just whacks into Gabbiadini and the visitors get a free kick.
Tackles flying in all over now as Alberto Gilardino is down. He has asked for medical attention but he should be fine, I think.
Gilardino is back on his feet and play resumes.
CHANCE! De Silvestri lets fly from the edge of the Genoa penalty box after rushing inside from the left, but he gives goalkeeper Mattia Perin no trouble whatsoever.
CHANCE! Wow, Genoa almost make it 2-0 as a long cross was floated into the Sampdoria box that Gilardino was about to reach out when it was headed out for a corner. The corner, though, yields nothing.
Half an hour gone in the Genoa derby and it is still 1-0 to the visitors, thanks to Luca Antonini’s goal in the ninth minute. The Samp fans have become quiet as they are helplessly watching their team dominate possession and even territory, but to no productive end.
Obiang once again tries to pick out Gabbiadini but the Samp forward fails to collect it properly. Obiang has been a bright spark for the home side tonight and is playing some clever little balls, that could well undo the Genoa defence.
Two corners in quick succession for hosts Sampdoria but they can create nothing productive. Still 1-0 to Genoa at the Marassi.
Another corner for Sampdoria, another wasted set piece. Eder wins the corner and then takes it, but it is flicked out for another corner.
No luck from corners for Sampdoria as Sime Vrsaljko is adjudged to have brought down a Genoa player and is penalised for it. Free kick to Genoa, who gladly take it and fend off the ball as far as they can from their penalty area.
CHANCE! Sampdoria go close as Eder floats in a cross from the left flank with his right foot. It goes out without anyone getting his head to it, but it was a very dangerous and well-crafted cross.
CHANCE! Birkir Bjarnason shoots high and wide of the Genoa goal despite finding himself a loose ball on the edge of the box. To be fair to him, the ball falls to him at an awkward angle and he did not have the luxury of timing his left-footed volley.
To be completely honest, the quality of the match has not been great. But there have been loads of passion and intensity, and the pace has been electric. Both teams are actually running at each other and trying to outwit each other, playing – or at least, trying to play – short quick passes and through-balls.
YELLOW CARD The yellow card count goes up to three in the match as Nenad Krsticic clips Gilardino and goes into the referee’s books.
YELLOW CARD Now Gilardino receives a yellow for his foul on Krsticic. Just one minute of injury time has been awarded.
HALF TIME: Sampdoria 0-1 Genoa
The referee blows the half-time whistle and brings the first 45 minutes to a close. It has been an entertaining first half with lots of passion and intensity on show. It is Genoa who lead the derby, thanks to Luca Antonini’s goal after just nine minutes.
Sampdoria have been arguably the better side, have had more possession and looked more assured and confident on the ball, but they are trailing in the Derby della Lanterna – and this is what they need to address in the second half. Pedro Obiang has been arguably the most creative player on the pitch tonight but his teammates have not been on the same wavelength as him.
Just going through the stats in the first half... Sampdoria made nine attempts on the Genoa goal in the opening 45 minutes. But how many of them were actually on target? None! On the other hand, Genoa has just one shot on target and they made it count. It’s all about taking chances, in these fiercely contested derbies.
Sampdoria have not done much wrong, to be honest, it’s just that they conceded a goal much against the run of play and have been playing catch-up since then. If it were goalless at the moment, then I would have said that the hosts would go on and win this match.
Having said that, I must laud the Genoa defence for keeping the Samp players at bay. Obiang has been unsuccessful with his lovely little through-balls and passes mainly because the visitors’ defence – the likes of Thomas Manfredini, Alessandro Gamberini and Daniele Portanova – have read his moves and made the interceptions.
The second half is about to get underway and Sampdoria will make a change at the break, it appears The two teams of players are on the pitch now.
KICKOFF! Genoa get the second half under at the Marassi. They lead 1-0 from the first period.
SUBSTITUTION Roberto Soriano comes on for Birkir Bjarnason. An attack-minded change from Sampdoria – they trail 1-0.
The flares are lighting up the Marassi, much like this fiercely contested and hugely entertaining fixture. The smoke is now reducing some visibility on the pitch but it should clear in a matter of minutes.
CHANCE! Poor shot from Francesco Matuzalem that brings an end to what was a lovely movement from Genoa. Gilardino was very much involved in that move as Matuzalem was teed up on the edge of the Samp box, but his effort was, to put it mildly, wayward.
GOAL! Sampdoria 0-2 Genoa (Emanuele Calaio)
Emanuele Calaio scores Genoa’s second goal in scintillating circumstances and edges his side closer to a victory tonight. Gilardino is again involved in the build-up as he releases Sime Vrsaljko, who in turn crosses the ball from the right for the Genoa forward to slam home from just yards out.
Now Eder runs up at the other end and tries to create problems for Perin at his near post, but to no avail. Genoa are well and truly on their way to a massive victory over their bitter rivals. Sampdoria have a mountain to climb if they want to earn a point tonight in their ‘home clash’.
CHANCE! Soriano gets a shot in on the Genoa goal but Perin claims it with ease. Soriano’s arrival has given Samp a bit more pace and intensity in attack, but they need more than that now as they are 2-0 now with 35 or so minutes remaining in the derby.
Sampdoria are shell-shocked after conceding that second goal as Genoa are pressing them inside their own half. The opening 45 minutes were largely played inside the Genoa half, the second session is proving to be anything but.
YELLOW CARD The first yellow card of the second half and the fifth yellow card of the contest goes to Andrea Costa for his foul on Calaio.
Half an hour left in this contest and Genoa now lead Sampdoria 2-0. Emanuele Calaio’s goal just five minutes into the second half appear to have taken the sting out of Samp, who are struggling to pick themselves up really – although, fair to them, they are pushing on and seeking a lifeline.
Samp press on as a long ball from the midfield is lobbed towards Gabbiadini on the edge of the Genoa box, but it hits his back and the danger is cleared.
Free kick to Genoa in a very dangerous position, just outside the Samp penalty box. Gilardino is the one who earns it as he goes down under a challenge from Angelo Palombo.
SUBSTITUTION Genoa make their first change of the evening. Isaac Cofie comes on for Matuzalem.
GOAL! Sampdoria 0-3 Genoa (Francesco Lodi)
Wonderful free kick from Francesco Lodi, who curls it home with his left foot past Junior Costa and into the Sampdoria goal. 3-0 to Genoa, and it is one of the most beautiful free kicks anywhere in Europe this season.
SUBSTITUTION Genoa make another change. Alessandro Gamberini goes off and on comes Sebastian De Maio.
SUBSTITUTION Sampdoria make another change. Gianluca Sansone replaces Vasco Regini.
I just watched the replay of the wonderful, wonderful free kick from Lodi. It really was an exquisite piece of set-piece delivery that has pretty much settled this contest. Genoa are 3-0 up and there are no signs from Sampdoria that they will be able to make a comeback of any sort.
SUBSTITUTION The final Genoa change is being made now. Mario Santana comes on for goalscorer Luca Antonini.
Fifteen minutes remaining on the clock. The match has lost its intensity and the momentum, but the result is pretty much clear. Genoa are 3-0 up and are on course to registering their first points of the Serie A campaign.
SUBSTITUTION Final change for Samp. Eder comes off and is replaced by Nicola Pozzi.
The Genoa supporters are in loud voice at the Marassi as they know that they will be going home with a massive, massive victory over their bitter rivals. Could this victory kickstart their Serie A campaign?
YELLOW CARD A challenge in frustration from Roberto Soriano on Davide Biondini for which he is cautioned.
It’s pretty much clear that both sets of players just want to run the clock down and then get back home. The pace has dropped severely and there is really no lack of endeavour from either side to actually try to conjure something that does not involve passing the ball aimlessly to a teammate.
Frustration showing all over for the Samp players as they commit yet another foul – a needless one at that. They must take care that they do not lose a player as that would be a waste especially for future matches.
Five minutes remain on the lock, Samp players throwing themselves at their Genoa counterparts, maybe just to boost their ego now that they know that the result is pretty much done and dusted. Do they have a consolation goal in them? I don’t think so.
YELLOW CARD Now Pozzi is shown the yellow card. He is the fifth Samp player to have gone into the referee’s books. Two Genoa players are on a card each.
YELLOW CARD Mattia Perin has also been shown the yellow card, it appears, for delaying in allowing a Samp free kick to be taken.
Samp surge forward in search of a consolation goal but they are halted in their tracks, as Gianluca Sansone sees his shot saved. Genoa are now getting celebrate a famous derby victory. Four shots, three on target and three goals – those are the stars that would matter for Genoa tonight.
Three minutes of injury time have been awarded.
FULL TIME: Sampdoria 0-3 Genoa
It’s all over at the Marassi as Genoa have registered a brilliant 3-0 victory over their bitter rivals Sampdoria in the Derby della Lanterna. Luca Antonini broke the deadlock after just nine minutes and Emanuele Calaio doubled his side’s advantage five minutes into the second half. By then Samp had given up, and Francesco Lodi ascertained the points for the ‘visitors’ with a superb free kick in the 66th minute.
Thank you very much for joining us here on Sports Mole for the Genoa derby and hope that you enjoyed our coverage. Have a good night, it’s goodbye from me for now.
