Sampdoria had a huge confidence-booster by crushing Sassuolo 4-0 with Francesco Caputo against his old club, plus January signings Stefano Sensi and Andrea Conti on target, then an Antonio Candreva Panenka penalty.
The Blucerchiati threw Sensi straight into the starting XI after his loan move from Inter, with Mikkel Damsgaard, Fabio Quagliarella and Maya Yoshida injured, plus Albin Ekdal suspended. Rogerio sat out a ban for Sassuolo, with Matheus Henrique, Filip Djuricic and Pedro Obiang not fully fit.
It was a former Sassuolo player who gave Samp the lead in the opening minutes. After a short corner, Antonio Candreva whipped a cross to the back post, where Ciccio Caputo managed to steer a cushioned volley into the far top corner from a very tricky angle.
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Moments later, Stefano Sensi scored on his debut. Morten Thorsby knocked down a Bartosz Bereszynski cross and Manolo Gabbiadini’s shot was parried into the path of Sensi.
Sassuolo fought back, Gianluca Scamacca’s header denied by a great save and Thorsby charging down the Domenico Berardi follow-up.
Caputo’s angled drive was beaten away, but Gabbiadini limped off with an apparent sprained knee after an awkward slip, giving Supryaga his debut.
The hosts had penalty appeals rejected for Alex Ferrari’s mistimed tackle on Sensi, while Wladimiro Falcone stuck out a foot to parry the Giacomo Raspadori angled drive at the near post.
Candreva drilled just off target from a Sensi assist, but Samp added their third when Candreva floated a free kick to the back post for a wonderful Andrea Conti cushioned volley off the inside of the right boot.
Falcone flew to palm a deflected Berardi free kick out of the top corner and did the same on a Raspadori snapshot.
It was a thumping 4-0 result in the end, as Andrea Consigli came flying out to bring down Caputo and Candreva converted with a cheeky Panenka penalty.
Sampdoria 4-0 Sassuolo
Caputo 5 (Sam), Sensi 7 (Sam), Conti 63 (Sam), Candreva pen 91 (Sam)