Sampdoria show title intent with Bologna thrashing

Sampdoria went back to the top of Serie A and underlined their title credentials with a 4-1 thumping of troubled 10-man Bologna on Saturday.

Champions Inter Milan can return to the scudetto summit in the day’s late game, though, if they beat or draw with Catania at home.

Errant talent Antonio Cassano was the catalyst for this cruise in Genoa as the 27-year-old bad-boy turned in one of his most mesmerising and influential performances, setting up two goals and proving a constant menace.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has resisted the temptation to select Cassano for more than a year despite intense media pressure but he cannot have failed to be impressed by this match-winning performance.

Neither could he have failed to notice the performance of Giampaolo Pazzini who scored despite playing in a mask after having his nose broken in a clash with Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera last week.

Cassano teed him up on 7min after a brilliant touch made him some space to cross from the right, picking out Pazzini who got ahead of his marker to flick the ball past an unsighted Emiliano Viviano.

On 16min it was two after a brilliant move where Cassano chipped the ball to Pazzini who controlled it on his chest and then helped it on into Daniele Mannini’s path with the midfielder lashing home a stunning volley.

The game was over as a contest on 26min when Switzerland midfielder Reto Ziegler turned Gaby Mudingayi far too easily 25 yards from goal and then sent a rocket past Viviano into the bottom corner.

Bologna’s difficult task was made almost impossible in the aftermath as forward Marco Di Vaio said something to the referee and was shown a straight red card.

On 33min it was four. Cassano teased the Bologna backline and tricked himself into space before crossing to Mannini to head home from two yards out at the back post.

Cassano then almost scored a stunner as he picked the ball up from just inside the Bologna half and beat three players before rifling just over from the edge of the area.

The Serie A strugglers showed great pride to not fold in the second period and pulled a goal back through substitute Pablo Osvaldo on 62min.

The defeat, which leaves Bologna in the relegation zone, was a bad way for new coach Franco Colomba to begin his career with the club having replaced Giuseppe Papadopulo in midweek.