Fiorentina needed to win for Europa League qualification, but they simply never turned up against a Sampdoria side in celebratory mood, with Fabio Quagliarella scoring a stunner.
The Blucerchiati could put on a party, knowing their Serie A safety was guaranteed before starting and that their arch-rivals Genoa were relegated simultaneously. As for the Viola, they were still within reach of a Europa League spot, missing Gaetano Castrovilli and suspended Sofian Amrabat.
Samp had a very aggressive start, as the weight of fearing relegation was visibly lifted from their shoulders. Alfred Duncan risked an own goal with his interception to prevent Fabio Quagliarella’s tap-in, then another of the veteran striker’s assists was blocked.
They took a deserved lead with Alex Ferrari using his chest to cushion in the Antonio Candreva free kick at the near post, left totally unmarked.
Nico Gonzalez nodded a corner over the bar and Candreva stung Pietro Terracciano’s gloves on the half-volley, before Samp doubled their lead with a simply beautiful goal.
Quagliarella ran onto a Sabiri slide-rule pass and beat Terracciano from a tricky angle with a sublime chip off the outside of the right boot.
Giacomo Bonaventura should’ve pulled one back only to balloon over the bar from seven yards, while Omar Colley made an important defensive header on Arthur Cabral.
Fiorentina had more possession in the second half, but created practically no real chances, and instead went 3-0 down when Candreva rolled across for Morten Thorsby to fire into the roof of the net first time.
Abdelhamid Sabiri added a fourth late on, threading his finish from the edge of the box between Nikola Milenkovic’s legs, as Terracciano was totally wrong-footed.
Fiorentina did receive a penalty when Simone Trimboli stuck out an arm to push the ball off the head of Krzysztof Piatek, Nico Gonzalez calmly converting past substitute goalkeeper Nicola Ravaglia.
Omar Colley rather foolishly got himself sent off in stoppages for dissent.
Sampdoria 4-1 Fiorentina
Ferrari 16 (S), Quagliarella 30 (S), Thorsby 71 (S), Sabiri 83 (S), Nico Gonzalez pen 89 (F)
Sent off: Colley 94 (S)