Sampdoria and Roma played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in their clash at the top of Serie A this evening.
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Gervinho should have fired the visitors ahead when he was released down the middle, but Sergio Romero made a good stop to block the first effort before the forward hit the post from a tight angle on the rebound.
The Ivory Coast international went close again minutes later when he found space in the inside left channel, and he unleashed a low effort at goal with his left foot which went inches past the post.
In the second half, Gervinho continued to be involved as he raided down the left and beat the challenge of Lorenzo De Silvestri before firing a low shot at goal, which was well saved by Romero.
Sampdoria tried to hit back when Manolo Gabbiadini raced forwards and exchanged a neat one-two with Eder before firing the ball past Morgan De Sanctis. However, his celebrations were short lived as the strike was correctly disallowed for offside.
The home side were beginning to exert their dominance on the game and Roberto Soriano made a surging run through the middle of the Roma defence before being halted, but the clearance went straight to Stefano Okaka, who failed to beat De Sanctis with his first-time shot.
Roma hit back and should have taken the lead when Francesco Totti lifted a dangerous cross into the penalty area which was met by the head of Davide Astori, but his effort was straight at Romero.
Sampdoria pushed forward again and won a free kick down the right wing. From the resulting set piece, Soriano's cross into the box travelled all the way to the back post where Okaka met the ball, but somehow missed the target from three yards out.
The visitors were denied victory late in the game by Romero as Vasilis Torosidis sped down the flank and crossed into the middle for Alessandro Florenzi, but his powerful header was palmed away by the keeper.
Simon Sinclair
