Sampdoria have bounced back from consecutive defeats by claiming a 2-0 win over Torino in their Serie A match at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.
The visitors made the perfect start and took the lead in the seventh minute when the ball broke kindly for Stefano Okaka to slot past the keeper from just inside the box.
Kamil Glik came close to an immediate response for Torino, but he saw his strike deflect narrowly wide of the post.
Sampdoria were creating the better of the chances, as Renan had a sight of goal when his long-range effort went over the bar.
They continued to press and Okaka was inches away from scoring his second of the match when he latched onto a ball over the top and chipped the keeper, but he saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
Alessio Cerci provided the visiting defence with a dangerous moment as he rose unmarked to meet a corner, but he aimed his header straight at Daniele Padelli.
Torino began to see more of the ball as the first half progressed and Padelli had to be alert again to beat away Ciro Immobile's powerful shot from the edge of the box.
Padelli was being kept busy and he did well to block Cerci's effort from point-blank range after the striker had latched onto Alexander Farnerud's chipped ball over the top.
Torino began the second half determined to level the score. Jasmin Kurtic saw his fierce strike tipped over before Immobile flashed a strike across the keeper and beyond the far post.
The home side were dominating proceedings and Glik should have done better when he aimed a header wide from a corner.
Immobile spurned another opening for his side when he took down a long ball down inside the box, before lashing a strike wide of the post.
Sampdoria made Torino pay for their missed chances with 11 minutes left to play when Manolo Gabbiadini curled a free kick out of the reach of Padelli and into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Migjen Basha should have pulled a goal back for the hosts in the final minute, but he headed straight into the arms of Junior Costa as Sampdoria held on to claim the three points.
Alex Meyers
