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The Scudetto race isn't over yet, as Roma conquered Marassi to close within three points of leaders Inter!
These sides were both caught between two stools going into the game, as Roma were not mathematically out of the Scudetto race and yet felt Juve breathing down their necks, while Samp were battling for a Champions League spot and more realistically the UEFA Cup.
Above all it was the chance for Antonio Cassano to face the Giallorossi for the first time since his return to Italy, having missed the first round through suspension. Francesco Totti, Rodrigo Taddei and Matteo Ferrari were injured, while Christian Maggio and Juan sat out bans, so Christian Panucci moved to central defence.
Luciano Spalletti changed tactics after a few minutes, pushing Cicinho to right midfield so Marco Cassetti went back into defence. Angelo Palombo fired over from distance.
Cassano was left clear on goal after a Panucci defensive error and flicked it with the outside of his foot, but Alexander Doni did brilliantly to fingertip it round the post at full stretch from point-blank range.
Sampdoria thumped the woodwork as Paolo Sammarco's effort took a deflection off Daniele De Rossi to loop up on to the crossbar of an empty net.
Cassano was again one-on-one with Doni after Sammarco's assist and once more was denied by the Brazilian goalkeeper. Doni then showed sharp reflexes on Claudio Bellucci's backheel flick, as the Samp striker was facing the wrong way when the loose ball came to him and had to improvise.
The Blucerchiati were dominating the first half and hit the woodwork for a second time with Bellucci's looping header.
That pressure continued after the break with Doni parrying a Sammarco half-volley and saving an acrobatic Bellucci header.
Roma heard news from San Siro that Inter were losing the derby and began to up the tempo. It certainly worked, as on 75 minutes they took the lead when Panucci was left unmarked for a free header at the near post from David Pizarro's corner kick. Franceschini was on the line, but couldn't keep it out. It was a special moment for Panucci, who was a Genoa youth product.
Moments later Antonio Mirante needed a great reaction save to deny Mirko Vucinic on the counter-attack.
The Giallorossi were transformed and made it 2-0 with a Pizarro daisy-cutter from the edge of the box.
The scoreline was sealed up thanks to a classic counter-attack as Vucinic rolled across for Cicinho's tap-in from six yards. In the final minutes both Alberto Aquilani and former Roma star Vincenzo Montella made their comebacks after long-term injuries.
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