Sampdoria fans in Padua
Sampdoria fails to beat the away taboo. In the entire calendar year 2025, the Blucerchiati have never won away from homewith the exception of the success in the return playout in June against Salernitana. An unwritten law that is also confirmed in Padua where the team led by Gregucci and Foti does not go beyond the 1-1 draw: nice goal than usual Massimo Coda in the first half with an assist from Depaoli, equalizer Hug in the second half to surprise the Sampdoria defense. And to say that Sampdoria, ahead by one goal, had had opportunities to close out the match with Pafundi, Barak and Ioannou but were unable to exploit them. And indeed, at 1-1 there were no regrets for Padova either: goal ball for Papu Gomez with the ball just wide. 14 months after the last away win (5-3 in Cesena, 20 October 2024) the Blucerchiati have not won even today away from Genoa.
While waiting for next Saturday’s match at Marassi against Reggiana immediately after Christmas, the substance of the standings for the Blucerchiati remain unchanged over the holidays as they remain in the relegation zone, placing Spezia in penultimate place and – at least for now – Mantova (who will play tomorrow) on 14 points. A Samp team that once again clung to the qualities of Massimo Coda but in which other elements called upon to make the difference struggled, above all Pafundi (recalled to the bench after a disappointing first half). Unconvincing Cherubini took over in the second half, Barak’s decline compared to the good performance in Palermo. And in defense the usual concessions to rivals. The same old story, in short. And the usual ranking, in the hope that the January transfer window (Salvatore Esposito of Spezia seems to be very close, loan with obligation to buy) can relaunch the Blucerchiati’s prospects.
The match
PADUA-SAMPDORIA 1-1
MARKERS
pt 19 Queen; st 20′ Fus.
PADOVA (3-5-2)
Sorrentino; Faedo, Sgarbi, Perrotta; Capelli, Fusi (34′ st Di Maggio), Crisetig (11′ st Seghetti), Varas, Barreca (29′ st Ghiglione); Papu Gomez (34′ st Buonaiuto), Bortolussi (29′ st Baselli). Available Mouquet, Fortin, Belli, Boi, Silva, Villa. All. Andreoletti.
SAMPDORIA (3-5-2)
Ghidotti; Venuti (21′ st Ferrari), Abildgaard, Hadzukadunic; Depaoli, Conti (1′ st Benedetti), Henderson, Barak (35′ st Pedrola), Ioannou; Pafundi (1′ st Cherubini), Coda (27′ st Cuni). Available Krastev, Ravaglia, Coucke, Ricci, Giordano, Vulikic, Narro, Benedetti. All. Gregucci-Foti.
REFEREE
Ayroldi of Molfetta. Assistants: Passeri di Gubbio and Scarpa di Collegno. Fourth official: Tremolada di Monza. VAR: Santoro from Messina. AVAR: Marini di Roma 1.
NOTE
8271 spectators for a revenue of 63,374 euros (paying share). Henderson booked for non-compliant behaviour, Conti and Fusi booked for foul play. Corners 5-2 for Sampdoria. Recovery: st 1′, st 4′.
The first half.
8′ Papu Gomez tries for Padova: shot over the crossbar.
11′ Ball lost by Coda, shot from outside by Fusi for Padova: imprecise conclusion but Euganeo applauds.
19′ SAMPDORIA IN ADVANTAGE. Depaoli’s lunge on the right lane, change of play towards the penalty area where – from the opposite side – Massimo Coda enters. Great control, feint on Paduan defender Faedo and ball into the net to displace Sorrentino. Great goal, the eighth of the season for Coda. Sampdoria leads 1-0 in Padua.
23′ Another dangerous action by Sampdoria: progression from the left by Ioannou, ball in the area but Pafundi – unconvinced – devours the 2-0 from a few steps away with a weak shot deflected for a corner from a few steps away.
24′ Henderson is booked for blocking Sorrentino’s goal kick. First yellow of the day.
28′ Inaccurate header by Capelli: Padova tries to react.
30′ Another great opportunity for Coda, face to face with Sorrentino after an error by the Padova defence. Sorrentino however makes up for it and clears it for a corner.
31′ Conti is booked: foul in midfield, rather naive and useless, on Papu Gomez.
35′ Nice throw from Barak for Coda who hits the post. But the eventual goal would have been disallowed: the action was stopped shortly afterwards for offside.
35′ Fusi is booked: foul on Conti. First yellow in Padua.
36′ Goal by Depaoli after a shot by Pafundi deflected for a corner. But the goal was immediately disallowed for offside.
39′ Cross by Barreca from the left, imprecise header in the area by Bortolussi for Padova.
46′ End of the first half: Sampdoria ahead 1-0 over Padova.
The second half.
1′ Conti is out and already booked, Benedetti is in. Also out is the disappointing Pafundi, in Cherubini. Double change in Sampdoria.
6′ Double great intervention by Sorrentino: the Padova goalkeeper says no first to Barak who tries from outside the area and then to Ioannou who from an excellent position – in the middle of the area – is hypnotized by the Patino goalkeeper.
9′ Mistake by Henderson who loses the ball in the defensive midfield, dangerous action by Padova but Papu Gomez – in the middle of the area – shoots very high and devours the 1-1 opportunity.
11′ In Padova Seghetti comes on for Crisetig.
20′ PADUA DRAW. Inspiring action in the Padova penalty area, pass from a few steps by Bortolussi for the winning diagonal by Fusi. Sampdoria defense that gets caught, Hadzukadunic and Henderson among others do badly. It’s now 1-1 between Padova and Sampdoria.
21′ Venuti out in Sampdoria, Ferrari in. The Foti-Gregucci tandem was also thinking about inserting Vulikic, no double substitution: the about-face immediately after Padova’s 1-1 goal which changes the inertia – also mental – of the match.
27′ In Sampdoria Coda is out – scorer of the momentary lead – and Cuni is in, returning after injury.
29′ Padova opportunity with Papu Gomez: diagonal shot just wide. Sampdoria in difficulty.
29′ In Padova Bortolussi and Barreca are out, Baselli and Ghiglione are in.
34′ In Padova, Papu Gomez is out to the applause of Euganeo, Buonaiuto is in. Fusi exits, Di Maggio enters.
35′ Pedrola joins Sampdoria in place of Barak.
41′ Padova’s header with Di Maggio blocks Ghidotti.
49′ Final in Padua: 1-1 between Padova and Sampdoria.
