Sampdoria had the best possible start to 2023 with a shock victory away to Sassuolo, decided by Manolo Gabbiadini’s overhead kick and a Tommaso Augello strike.
Both these sides saw out 2022 in terrible form, Samp losing four on the bounce and the Neroverdi picking up just one point in the same period. Mert Muldur and Maxime Lopez were injured for the hosts, with Filip Djuricic suspended, plus Fabio Quagliarella, Andrea Conti, Harry Winks, Omar Colley, Ignacio Pussetto and Abdelhamid Sabiri not making the trip. Samp threw January buys Bram Nuytinck and Sam Lammers straight into the starting XI.
Domenico Berardi returned to fitness with a cheeky run past two defenders to set up Armand Lauriente, denied by Emil Audero.
Manolo Gabbiadini fired wide after a give-and-go with Lammers, but gave Samp the lead with a sensational bicycle-kick from a knocked-on corner, stunning Sassuolo from six yards.
The Neroverdi seemed to fall apart, a series of terrible clearances allowing Tommaso Augello to smash in a ferocious long-range strike moments later.
Dejan Stankovic pointed to the sky and had tears in his eyes during the celebrations, thanking Sinisa Mihajlovic, who along with being one of his best friends was also a former Sampdoria player and coach.
Andrea Consigli got his fingertips to a Gabbiadini curler that was heading for the far bottom corner, as Sassuolo seemed to just disappear from the field.
Hamed Junior Traore came on and immediately tested Audero from 12 yards, while Domenico Berardi had penalty appeals rejected as his strike hit Nuytinck on the elbow.
Nuytinck brought down Andrea Pinamonti right on the edge of the area, originally given as a free kick and confirmed inside the box by VAR, allowing Berardi to convert the penalty.
Suddenly, it was all Sassuolo, Audero getting his fingertips to a Berardi scorcher and Lauriente effort, while Berardi saw another attempt charged down by Bruno Amione and Rogerio’s was deflected off target.
In stoppages, Audero bravely smothered a low cross at the feet of Gregoire Defrel, getting a knock to the head for his trouble.
Sassuolo 1-2 Sampdoria
Gabbiadini 25 (Sam), Augello 28 (Sam), Berardi pen 68 (Sas)