Mauro Zarate and Goran Pandev were on target again as Lazio top the Serie A table following this relatively comfortable victory.

Both sides have UEFA Cup ambitions this season and were riding on a wave of enthusiasm after positive Week 1 results. Lazio topped the table with a 4-1 win at Cagliari, while Samp stalled the mighty Inter. The Blucerchiati hadn't won here since 2005 and were without the injured Claudio Bellucci, Pietro Accardi and Hugo Campagnaro, so Jonathan Bottinelli made his Serie A debut. Francelino Matuzalem, Tommaso Rocchi and Ousmane Dabo missed out for the home side.

Paolo Sammarco won two challenges to put the ball into the centre for Antonio Cassano and some desperate defending cleared the danger.

Mauro Zarate has certainly made a impact on Serie A, as he scored his third goal in 97 minutes of football. The Argentine spun round and curled a magnificent left-foot finish into the far top corner that dipped mercilessly at the last moment.

Stefano Mauri should've made it 2-0, but Aleksandr Kolarov's cross fell on his weaker right foot and he ballooned wide from four yards.

Sampdoria threatened at the other end, as a corner was not cleared effectively and Juan Pablo Carrizo had his palms stung by a fierce Padalino half-volley. The move continued with Bottinelli unable to make the most of it. Bottinelli also went close with a glancing header from a corner.

Goran Pandev had penalty appeals waved away when he tumbled in the second half and Mauri attempted an audacious overhead kick.

Lazio finally doubled their advantage on 72 minutes, as Pandev hooked down a Cristian Brocchi pass over the defence and shrugged off Bottinelli to smash a low right-foot drive past Mirante.

Cassano dribbled past two defenders for a cross-shot that was deflected for a corner before it could reach Emiliano Bonazzoli.