Manolo Gabbiadini scored the winner 15 minutes from time to hand Sampdoria a 1-0 triumph over Genoa on Sunday night.

Gabbiadini had the first effort at goal early on as he took advantage of space offered to him by the Genoa defenders by firing over the crossbar from long range.

Genoa improved as the first half progressed, and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock before the break when Mauricio Pinilla saw his header tipped wide by Emiliano Viviano.

Both sides looked to take control after the interval, but clear opportunities continued to be rare as Diego Perotti curled wide of the Sampdoria box on the edge of the box.

However, there would be a late twist when Gabbiadini stepped up to curl in a free kick off the inside of the post to give Sampdoria all three points.