Manolo Gabbiadini struck within 38 seconds for Sampdoria, while Venezia left it late to grab an equaliser with a Thomas Henry stunner.
The Blucerchiati were revitalised after victory in the Derby della Lanterna, but still missing Mikkel Damsgaard and Ernesto Torregrossa. Venezia brought Pietro Ceccaroni back from suspension, but Davide Okereke, Marco Modolo and Ridgeciano Haps were injured and Antonio Vacca not fit to start after a 1-1 draw with Juventus.
It took barely 40 seconds to find a breakthrough, as Tommaso Augello’s through ball was flicked on by Francesco Caputo and despite losing his footing, Manolo Gabbiadini still steered the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Emil Audero had to sprint off his line to close down Tanner Tessmann in the penalty area, while nobody got on the end of the Augello and Antonio Candreva balls across the face of goal.
Candreva went for goal himself, forcing a save out of Sergio Romero from distance as the dipping strike was heading into the far bottom corner.
Morten Thorsby came so close straight after the restart, his header glancing the upright from a Candreva cross.
Mattia Aramu fired wide after a good Sofian Kiyine turn, but it really should’ve been 2-0 when Sergio Romero parried a Valerio Verre scorcher into the path of Thorsby, who couldn’t keep the rebound down.
Romero parried from Candreva after a great Samp move on Ciccio Caputo’s back-heel flick, while Arnor Sigurdsson’s cross-shot was deflected just wide.
Venezia got their deserved equaliser with four minutes left on the clock, as Thomas Henry ran forward on the counter and curled a sensational right-foot finish into the far top corner from the edge of the box.
The Lagunari were trying to win it at the death, Francesco Forte and Sirgudsson shots charged down in the penalty area.
So were Samp, Mattia Caldara clearing a Candreva chest and volley off the line, while Henry blasted over after a strong Kiyine counter.
Sampdoria 1-1 Venezia
Gabbiadini 1 (S), Henry 86 (V)