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Vincenzo Montella and an own goal gave Sampdoria their second consecutive victory, defeating Empoli 3-0.
The Blucerchiati were looking for a second consecutive victory, even though they were without Antonio Cassano, Gennaro Delvecchio, Stefano Lucchini and the suspended Mirko Pieri. Empoli had to leave behind Antonio Busce' and Luca Saudati.
It took just five minutes for Samp to break the deadlock. Sergio Volpi's free kick from the right was let through by Davide Bassi's howler, allowing Christian Maggio to tap in from six yards, although replays show it was Guillermo Giacomazzi who got the final touch for an own goal.
Empoli had early chances too, but Vittorio Tosto and Nicola Pozzi failed to make the most of them. The defence was a real problem, though, as another Volpi cross found its way through and even took Hugo Campagnaro by surprise.
Franceschini just failed to get the final touch to Maggio's cross from the right, while Andrea Raggi did well to get back and block Claudio Bellucci's effort and Bassi captured another Volpi drive from the edge of the area.
Samp doubled their lead on 40 minutes thanks to former Empoli hero Montella. Once again Maggio was involved, as he was left unmarked to run on to Paolo Sammarco's pass and rolled across for Montella's tap-in.
Montella could have had his 141st Serie A goal moments later, but hit his lob too weakly into the grateful arms of the Empoli goalkeeper. Bassi also parried a dangerous Bellucci free kick at the near post.
In first half stoppages there was a hideous clash of heads between Maggio and Giacomazzi. Both were left with large bandages, the Empoli midfielder got the worst of it with a deep cut to his nose and under his eye, but they were able to continue.
Just before the half-time whistle, Bassi flew to parry a dangerous Luigi Sala header from a free kick.
Last week Empoli replaced Francesco Marianini with Sebastian Giovinco and fought back from 2-0 down to catch Roma 2-2 and Gigi Cagni made the same substitution at half-time here. Reto Ziegler's mis-kicked shot turned into an assist for Bellucci, who fired over, while at the other end Campagnaro needed a perfectly-timed challenge in the box to prevent Pozzi from completing a counter-attack.
Felice Piccolo limped off with an injury, so final substitute Rej Volpato came on, pushing Luca Antonini back into defence. Pozzi's volley was well over, but Tosto almost scored an own goal with a wayward clearance, forcing goalkeeper Bassi into a volley.
Empoli's best chance of the game so far arrived on 78 minutes. A Giovinco corner kick found Antonini for a strike that Luca Castellazzi tipped on to the upright with the aid of a deflection off Volpi on the line.
Samp hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed for Ziegler's offside position. Instead Castellazzi had to make another decisive save with his fingertips as Vannucchi's shot on the bounce flashed across the face of goal.
The Blucerchiati sealed the 3-0 scoreline in the final minute. Bellucci ran into space down the right, Andrea Caracciolo's backheel flick wasn't enough to turn into the net, but it did act as an assist for Sammarco.
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