Sampdoria, Empoli ends all square

Sampdoria and Empoli have played out a 1-1 draw in Thursday night's Serie A clash at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

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The hosts managed to get the ball in the back of the net twice in the first quarter of an hour, but both of Eder's efforts were disallowed due to offside.

Neither side could break the deadlock come the half-time whistle, but just before the hour it was Empoli who drew first blood, thanks to Manuel Pucciarelli's ferocious effort into the top corner.

Sampdoria were able to draw level, however, as Eder's first legitimate goal of the evening saw him collect a pinpoint pass and rifle into the bottom left corner of the visitors' net.

Walter Zenga's charges continued to bear down on their opponents' goal and were buoyed in their pursuit when Assane Diousse was dismissed for a second booking with two minutes to play, but they had to settle for the draw in the end.