Sampdoria coach Roberto D’Aversa is hanging by a thread after Bologna secured their first away win of the season, Mattias Svanberg with a goal and assist.
The Blucerchiati had to do without suspended Adrien Silva, who started a two-match ban for insulting the referee, Mikkel Damsgaard, Valerio Verre and Ronaldo Vieira. Bologna made the trip without Kevin Bonifazi, Jerdy Schouten and Nicolas Viola, seeking their first away win of the season.
Samp had two big chances in the opening stages, first Lukasz Skorupski fingertipping Albin Ekdal’s header over the bar, then Kristoffer Askildsen’s volley from the edge of the area thumping the upright.
Emil Audero needed a sensational one-handed save to deny Marko Arnautovic, who was sent clear on the counter by Musa Barrow, then on the resulting corner Arthur Theate unmarked volleyed inches over.
Antonio Candreva fired just over and Skorupski fingertipped Ciccio Caputo’s low strike round the upright, while Maya Yoshida got back to block when Roberto Soriano went around the goalkeeper.
The breakthrough finally arrived at the dawn of the second half, Soriano getting down the right and rolling across for Mattias Svanberg to fire first-time into the roof of the net from 12 yards with his right boot.
Audero’s gloves were stung by Musa Barrow after Samp gave it away cheaply, while Tommaso Augello drilled just wide of the far post.
Yoshida at full stretch just couldn’t get the touch to Candreva’s cross, but Samp did draw level on 77 minutes.
Candreva’s free kick was flicked on by Yoshida and Morten Thorsby anticipated where the ball would land, sliding in to score from a couple of yards.
Barely had Sampdoria finished celebrating when Bologna restored their lead, as Svanberg whipped in a cross from the left to find Arnautovic for a free header at the back post. It was initially flagged offside, but given via VAR.
Nicola Sansone threatened a third with his solo run in stoppages.
Sampdoria 1-2 Bologna
Svanberg 47 (B), Thorsby 77 (S), Arnautovic 79 (B)