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When you’re fighting at the wrong end of the table, things seldom drop your way as it proved for Sampdoria in the opening stages. The hosts thought they had got away with one after just a couple of minutes when André-Frank Zambo Anguissa went down in the box and the referee waved away appeals, but a swift VAR check promoted a change in mindset and Napoli were awarded a penalty. Matteo Politano was the man tasked with firing his side ahead, but he saw his effort from 12-yards cannon back off the post.
Sampdoria’s reprieve was only temporary though, with their defensive fragilities again exposed when Mário Ruiz’s delivery was inch perfect for Victor Osimhen to fire Napoli into a deserved lead. Things were to get even worse for Sampdoria before the break as Tomás Rincón was shown a straight red card for a horrific challenge on Osimhen. From then on, Napoli were in cruise control and almost took their foot off the gas in a sense. That didn’t stop them trying for a second however, with Stanislav Lobotka coming tantalisingly close to doubling their advantage shortly after the hour mark.
Having already lost five successive home league matches prior to today, the prospects of Sampdoria finding a way back into the game appeared slim, even with the psychological edge of trying to honour the life of the great Gianluca Vialli, who is a cult hero at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium. Those chances were dashed with a little under ten minutes left to play, with Napoli getting their second spot-kick of the day, but this time it was Eljif Elmas who assumed responsibility and fired home to wrap up the three points for Napoli.