Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live minute-by-minute text commentary of the Serie A game between Sampdoria and Udinese. It promises to be an interesting match at the Marassi and you can follow all the action live here on this page.

Heading into tonight’s match, Samp find themselves 13th in the league table with 17 points from 15 matches, just three points above the relegation zone.

However, the Genoa-based outfit are unbeaten in their last three games and have gained some consistency that they lacked earlier in the season.

On the other hand, visitors Udinese, who finished third in Serie A last season, are struggling in 11th.

Team news coming up now...

Sampdoria Starting Lineup: Romero, Costa, Berardi, Gastaldello, Rossini, Maresca, Tissone, Obiang, Poli, Soriano, Icardi

Udinese Starting Lineup: Brkic, Angella, Danilo, Heurtaux, Allan, Agyemang-Badu, Bata, Pasquale, Pinzi, Di Natale, Pereyra

The big news for Udinese is that key striker Antonio Di Natale is back in the starting lineup. He started on the bench against Liverpool in their 1-0 defeat, and should be in perfect shape for tonight’s game. Giampiero Pinzi was struggling for fitness, but the midfielder has recovered and has been drafted in the starting lineup as well.

However, for Udinese Maurizio Domizzi and Luis Muriel are not fit enough to make the starting lineup and are on the bench. Zelijko Brkic has replaced Daniele Padelli in the Udinese goal.

Ciro Ferrara has opted for a 4-5-1 formation for Sampdoria, with Mauro Icardi leading the attack on his own. Nenad Krsticic and Shkodran Mustafi are out of the team as they are serving a one-match suspensions

Kickoff at the Marassi is at 6pm, so stay tuned on this page for all the live action as it happens in what promises to be a very intriguing game of Italian football.

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin knows that his team are going through a tough period and admits that winning against Sampdoria will be a stern this. This is what he had to say ahead of tonight’s match: “We have to rely on team spirit during this difficult time. In the last two games we played with organisation and intensity. If those elements are absent, then we are capable of losing against anyone. Antonio Di Natale is the leader of this team, a true captain and an example for everyone. There are many new players this season, so they need time to adapt to Serie A.”

On Sampdoria, Guidolin said: “Sampdoria are similar to Udinese, as they are in roughly the same position and challenging for the same objective, which is safety. With two victories we can pull ourselves out of the red zone, with two defeats we slide into the thick of the relegation battle. Tomorrow’s game is going to be a real test for us.”

Meanwhile, this is what Sampdoria coach Ciro Ferrara has to say ahead of tonight’s game against Udinese: “We must be wary of Udinese, who are going through many ups and downs. Antonio Di Natale is obviously the danger man, though they are also often effective from set plays.”

Kickoff is just minutes away at the Marassi in what should be a very exciting game of football.

And the game kicks off, with Sampdoria starting proceedings...

Sampdoria are controlling possession at the moment and are passing the ball around. Udinese are struggling to get a touch on the ball.

Good attacking move there from Sampdoria... Andrea Poli and Andrea Costa combine brilliantly on the left flank and the ball is eventually played out to the right. However, Udinese are alert in defence and clear the ball away just in time.

Sampdoria have looked very comfortable on the ball so far in this match and are looking very bright and enthusiastic in the opening minutes. They are stretching the Udinese defence, moving the ball around and pressing on their visitors from Udine.

Brilliant defending there from Daniele Gastaldello. Samp lose the ball in the midfield and Roberto Maximiliano Pereyra makes a run at goal, but the Samp defender makes a good tackle and clears the ball away.

Udinese are getting into the groove of things at the Marassi now and are settling into the game. However, Samp are still controlling proceedings, as the crowd gain their voice and cheer on the home side.

Costa is released down the left flank and whips in a cross looking for a Samp player inside the Udinese penalty area, but it is cleared away by Dusan Bašta.

CHANCE! Another chance for Sampdoria, this time from the right as Roberto Soriano is released down the channel and he takes an attempt on the Udinese goal from outside the area only to fire it high.

Poor execution there from Basta, who takes on Costa on the right but his final delivery is disappointing. Still goalless between Sampdoria and Udinese.

Now Antonio Di Natale is almost sent through on goal as Giampiero Pinzi floats in a ball over the top of the Samp defence, but the Italian striker fails to control it.

GOAL Udinese take the lead against Sampdoria! Antonio Di Natale floats in a corner that Danilo heads in at the far post! It was a simple goal and Danilo got a free header as he was unmarked!

Samp coach Ciro Ferrara will be very, very angry there. It was very poor defending from the hosts, as Danilo had acres of space and was afforded loads of time to place his header.

Twenty minutes gone, and Udinese lead Sampdoria 1-0 in Genoa. The home side started the game the brighter of the two teams, but the visitors from Udine gradually got into the game and are now ahead.

Free kick to Samp around 25 yards from goal. A good chance for them to equalise...

MARESCA! Enzo Maresca takes the free kick and tries to curl it into the far top corner, but it goes narrowly wide!

Good goalkeeping there from Zeljko Brkic, who claims the ball just in time as Roberto Soriano was released down the right side of the penalty area. The home side are pressing on for an equaliser now.

DANILO! Wonderful defending from the Udinese goalscorer, as he turns away a low cross from Pedro Mba Obiang from the right.

ANTONIO DI NATALE! The Udinese striker finds himself with the ball just outside the Samp penalty area and takes a ferocious attempt on goal, but it sails high.

GOAL Antonio Di Natale scores and makes it 2-0 to Udinese! Another poor defending from Sampdoria. Gaetano Berardi tries to stop Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu from getting at the end of a ball from the midfield, but his clearances bounces off of him and on to the path of Di Natale, who rolls the ball into an empty net.

Half an hour gone and it is now 2-0 to Udinese. Both goals have been the result of poor defending from Sampdoria and things look bleak for the home side now.

CHANCE FOR UDINESE! Oh, it was so close to becoming 3-0 to the visitors there! Pereyra wins a free kick on the right that Di Natale swings across the face of the Samp goal, but Thomas Heurtaux's header from just yards out narrowly misses the target.

Yellow card to Sampdoria defender Daniele Gastaldello for his challenge on Pereyra.

PINZI! Another chance for Udinese to go 3-0 up, as a loose ball falls to Pinzi just outside the Sampdoria penalty box, but his effort goes just wide of the far post. Sergio Romero was fully stretched there.

ANDREA POLI! A brilliant quick passing move between four Sampdoria players see Poli get teed up just outside the Udinese penalty area; the Italian midfielder tries to place his shot past Brkic, but the Udinese goalkeeper makes a comfortable catch in the end.

Five minutes to half-time in Genoa where Udinese lead Sampdoria 2-0. The hosts have looked confident while going on the attack, but their poor defending has let them down. Udinese have soaked the pressure well and have taken their chances brilliantly.

Oh, brilliant idea there from Pereyra, who gallops down the left flank and then cuts inside slightly before floating a ball over the top looking for Di Natale. It is just a bit too long for the Udinese talisman, as Romero makes a comfortable save.

Good save again from Samp goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who is alert to a shot from distance taken by Giovanni Pasquale. Once again, it was Pereyra who passed him a clever ball.

It is half-time at the Marassi where Udinese lead Sampdoria 2-0.

What a first 45 minutes it has been! Samp were clearly the better and more confident side in the opening minutes, but Udinese gradually made their way into the game. Danilo headed in Antonio Di Natale's corner in the 17th minute, and just before the half-hour mark Di Natale himself found the target from close range.

Sampdoria's clever work in attack has been undone by their poor defending. Both of Udinese's goals were the results of poor work at the back, and coach Ciro Ferrara will be far from pleased - I can tell you that!

Let's go through some stats now. In the first 45 minutes, Sampdoria had just one of their five shots on target, 53% of possession and goalkeeper Sergio Romero had to make two saves. They also had Daniele Gastaldello get a yellow card.

On the other hand, Udinese had four of their eight shots on target, 47% of the possession and Zeljko Brkic had to make just one save.

The second half is about to start now, and Sampdoria are making a change. Forward Nicola Pozzi comes on for midfielder Enzo Maresca.

And Udinese get us underway in the second half. They are leading 2-0 at the moment...

The Bianconeri go on the attack right from the start with Pereyra floating a cross from the right, but Gastaldello heads it clear with ease.

Now Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu runs down the left flank and then whips in a cross aiming for Di Natale, but it is intercepted. The visitors are looking bright in these early minutes of the second half at the Marassi.

Five minutes gone in the second half and Udinese still lead 2-0.

Wonderful, wonderful defending there from Gaetano Berardi. Udinese break away fast and Di Natale squares a ball for Agyemang-Badu inside the Sampdoria penalty box, but the defender slides in to make a brilliant tackle - probably the best in the game so far.

Sampdoria are looking to make another change at the moment, it seems. Marcelo Estigarribia seems to be the player who will come on for the hosts.

Di Natale and Agyemang-Badu once again try to combine down the left side of the Samp penalty box, but their move is foiled by Romero.

Yellow card for Sampdoria striker Nicola Pozzi for his lunge on Allan. He is the second player for the home team to be cautioned this evening.

The game is being played at a very intense pace with both sides refusing to back down. Samp are 2-0 behind and need to find a goal soon to put Udinese under pressure. At the moment, play is limited to the midfield really.

POZZI! The Sampdoria forward finds himself with the ball just outside the Udinese penalty box, turns his marker and then takes a quick shot only to see goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic claim the ball with ease.

DI NATALE! Another slip-up from Sampdoria almost sees Udinese go 3-0 up! Berardi fails to head away a long ball in the midfield which falls to Di Natale. The Italian runs with the ball and takes a fierce shot, but it goes just wide of the target.

BADU! Oh, another brilliant cross from the Udinese midfielder across the face of the goal after he is teed up by Pereyra, but there is no one in a Udinese shirt to tuck it home.

PENALTY! Sampdoria earn a penalty as Allan pulls down Emmanuel Icardi inside the Udinese area. The hosts have a lifeline now...

PENALTY SAVED! Oh, poor, poor spot kick from Nicola Pozzi, whose attempt from 12 yards is saved with ease by Brkic. 2-0 to Udinese it remains.

Awful, awful penalty that was, to be honest. There was not much power or placement. That could have put Samp back into the game, but as it stands, they are still trailing 2-0 at home to Udinese with just around 25 minutes of normal time remaining.

Udinese make their first change of the evening. Andrea Lazzari comes on for Giampiero Pinzi. A midfielder for a midfielder.

Sampdoria have already made two substitutions. Pozzi came on at the start of the second half, and then in the 53rd minute Daniele Gastaldello was replaced by Marcelo Estigarribia.

CHANCE! Andrea Poli plays a superb ball over the top of the Udinese defence that Emmanuel Icardi tries to turn it on goal, but Brkic makes a wonderful reflex save.

TISSONE! Fernando Tissone tries his luck from outside the Udinese area, but his attempt goes just wide of the post. The hosts are pressing on for their opening goal of the evening. It is still 2-0 to Udinese.

Udinese's Thomas Heurtaux is shown the yellow card for his challenge on Pedro Mba Obiang. He is the first visiting player to be cautioned this evening.

Twenty minutes of normal time left in Genoa. Udinese lead Sampdoria 2-0 and it seems that the Udine outfit will bag maximum points from this fixture.

Another substitution for Udinese. Giovanni Pasquale, who has been limping for last five or so minutes, is replaced by Pablo Armero.

Sampdoria make their third and final substitution of the evening. Paolo Castellini replaces Gaetano Berardi.

The match has gone flat in the last few minutes. Samp are not looking as bright as they did in attack earlier in the game, and Udinese seem happy to just run down the clock. To be honest, they should be pardoned for believing that they have done enough to pick up maximum points from this contest.

Ten minutes of normal time remain at the Marassi. Udinese still lead 2-0.

DI NATALE! Wonderful attempt from the veteran Italian striker from the left side of the Samp penalty area, as he tries to curl it into the top right corner. However, Romero makes a brilliant save.

Oh, Pedro Mba Obiang takes a shot that he will not like to remember. It is taken from distance and it is as wide as you can possibly imagine.

Five minutes of normal time remain. Udinese are 2-0 up, and it looks as if they will go back to Udine with maximum points from this match.

Estigarribia! Samp make a good attacking move as they go out in droves and play the ball in and around the Udinese penalty area. Marcelo Estigarribia is then teed up outside the box but his attempted curling effort is high and wide.

Oh, Nicola Pozzi could be in trouble there for a rather cynical challenge on Dusan Bašta. He has been booked already and could be sent off...

The referee takes a lenient approach there, and does not show Pozzi another yellow card. He probably remembered that the Samp forward was already on a yellow card.

Three minutes of injury time have been awarded. It is too little, too late for Samp really.

Udinese make their final change of the evening. Antonio Di Natale goes off and on comes Mathias Ranegie.

OBIANG! Wonderful effort from the Sampdoria midfielder as he shoots from the left side aiming for the far bottom corner of the net. It goes just wide, but the shot had Brkic at full stretch.

It's all over in Genoa, as Udinese have defeated Sampdoria 2-0. Danilo and Antonio Di Natale's goals in the first half proved to be enough for the visiting side, as Nicola Pozzi failed to convert a second-half penalty for the hosts.

I hope that you enjoyed our live coverage of the game here on Sports Mole. Have a good night. It's goodbye from me for now.