Monza made it two wins in a row with Matteo Pessina, a fantastic Gianluca Caprari volley and Stefano Sensi curler, but Sampdoria are more isolated at the bottom than ever.
This was already turning into a huge battle to avoid relegation, as Samp were sinking fast and Monza overjoyed after their first ever victory, against Juventus no less, on the debut of new coach Raffaele Palladino.
Harry Winks and Giuseppe De Luca were still out of action for the hosts, with coach Marco Giampaolo in the stands due to a touchline ban. The visitors missed Andrea Petagna, Marlon and Luca Marrone, with Andrea Ranocchia having retired.
Monza took the lead with a well-worked move when Ciurria at the back post knocked down the Stefano Sensi cross for Matteo Pessina to volley in from four yards. It was the first Serie A goal for the captain’s hometown club.
Pessina and Nicolò Rovella also stung Emil Audero’s gloves with ferocious long-range strikes, while Abdelhamid Sabiri’s screamer took a double deflection over the Monza bar.
There were confusing scenes on the stroke of half-time, as the referee awarded a penalty when Tomas Rincon went down in a mass collision with Armando Izzo and Gonzalo Villar. However, the decision was changed following a VAR review, as if anything it was Villar who cut his teammate off.
Monza doubled their lead with a former Sampdoria player, as Gianluca Caprari hit a splendid volley into the far top corner from a tricky angle and refused to celebrate in front of his old fans.
Samp were struggling badly and Audero prevented Christian Gytkjaer scoring a third with a sensational one-handed save at the top corner.
There was time for one last stab in the back, as another former Sampdoria player scored at Marassi, Stefano Sensi sweeping in off the inside of the right boot to the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Sampdoria fans jeered their players off at the final whistle and told them to go back in the locker room when they tried to salute the crowd.
Sampdoria 0-3 Monza
Pessina 11 (M), Caprari 69 (M), Sensi 95 (M)
Berlusco knows his football. Sacks Stroppa and says he wants to make more input – immediately pick up 2 wins. Uno di noi ⚫️🔴