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Catania took advantage of a sluggish Samp performance to get an important win, but Antonio Cassano suffered a new injury.
Both sides have been stuttering recently and had the opportunity to push towards upper mid-table comfort. This fixture had only ever seen one Serie A draw with 33 goals in 10 meetings, including last season's spectacular 4-2 for the Sicilians. Antonio Cassano returned from injury for his first start of the season, but Pietro Accardi, Gennaro Delvecchio and the suspended Hugo Campagnaro missed out.
Within 90 seconds Catania had taken the lead through Giuseppe Mascara's first goal of the season. Luigi Sala fell over as he tried to intercept a harmless Davide Baiocco cross from the left, effectively setting up a set-piece for Mascara to thump in from just inside the area.
There was another howler from the Blucerchiati soon after, as goalkeeper Antonio Mirante fumbled and was fortunate that Gionatha Spinesi hesitated rather than shooting straight into the empty net.
Mascara's corner kick came out to Vargas for a stunning volley from well over 30 metres that whistled past the post.
Sampdoria did not have a shot on goal in the first half, but Cassano and Gennaro Sardo went off injured, another muscular problem for the former Roma and Real Madrid talent.
Jorge Martinez made it three Serie A goals for the season with a precise free header from Mascara's corner kick, as Catania totally dominated.
Sampdoria did have a chance on 63 minutes, but a corner kick went to Angelo Palombo whose header bounced off the ground and on to the crossbar from point-blank range.
The Blucerchiati were pouring forward now, Ciro Polito parrying a Bucchi strike from distance and striker Emiliano Bonazzoli making his comeback, but it was too little, too late.
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