Back in 2010, Dejan Stankovic was one of Jose Mourinho’s footsoldiers who brought the Nerazzurri the triple crown. These two are now close friends but tonight they had to put the fondness aside as Serbian’s Sampdoria welcomed the Wolfess led by the Portuguese expert. Final score 0-1 with Mourinho’s men collecting all three points thanks to a converted early penalty.Roma extended their unbeaten away record across all competitions to four matches for the first time since February following a hard-fought victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.With victory enough to lift Roma into the Champions League qualification positions, the visitors were given a glorious opportunity to take the lead with only six minutes on the clock. At first reluctant to point to the spot, VAR intervened to recommend Marco Di Bello reverse his initial decision after it appeared Alex Ferrari had handled Tammy Abraham’s delivery into the box. Not to be stopped in his pursuit of his first league goal of the current campaign, Lorenzo Pellegrini confidently stepped up to make no mistake from 12 yards and give his side an early advantage.Having failed to register a victory in their first nine matches of a Serie A season for the first time since the 1972/73 campaign, Sampdoria struggled in the final third, eventually registering their first shot on target in the 21st minute. Stanković’s newly-inherited side begrudgingly trundled down the tunnel for the halftime interval, hoping the first half could have continued for longer following an improved display after going behind.On course to suffer a demoralising fifth defeat in their last six matches, Stanković introduced a double substitution at halftime as Ignacio Pussetto and Nicola Murru entered the fray for the second half. Looking for a fourth victory in their last six league matches, Roma were unfortunate not to double their advantage in the 56th minute when Andrea Belotti could only fire straight at the onrushing silhouette of Emil Audero.Tonali’s late goal gives AC Milan the much needed three points in their chase after the title defenceThere were a limited number of goalscoring opportunities during the remainder of the second half, allowing Roma to remain in the ascendancy and extend their deep-rooted bragging rights after only one defeat in the last nine encounters. In contrast, Sampdoria remain festering at the bottom of the Serie A standings without a victory this campaign.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 10Saturday Empoli – Monza 1-0 (1-0)/Haas 11/Torino – Juventus 0-1 (0-1)/Vlahovic 74/Atalanta- Sassuolo 2-1 (1-1)/Pasalic 45-+2, Lookman 46 – Kyriokolopus 41/Sunday Inter – Salernitana 2-0 (1-0)/Lautaro 14, Barella 58/Lazio – Udinese 0-0Spezia – Cremonese 2-2 (2-1)/Nzola 19, Holm 22 – Dessers 2, Pickel 52/Napoli – Bologna 3-2 (1-1)/Jesus 45, Lozano 49, Osimhen 69 – Zirkzee 41, Barrow 52/Verona – AC Milan 1-2 (1-1)/Gabbia 20 og – Veloso 9 og, Tonali 82/ Monday Sampdoria – Roma 0-1 (0-1)/Pellegrini 9 pen/21.45: (3.90) Lecce (3.25) Fiorentina (2.19)***odds are subject to change ©FlashScore
