Udinese 2-3 Sampdoria

Sampdoria twice came from behind to claim three Serie A points against Udinese at the Stadio Friuli.

The hosts went ahead first through Antonio Di Natale's penalty after seven minutes, then again a minute before the break courtesy of Mauricio Isla's strike after Giampaolo Pazzini had levelled from the spot.

But Nicola Pozzi brought Samp back on terms again after 57 minutes and Franco Semioli put them ahead for the first time nine minutes later, a lead which stuck.

It was a blow for Udinese who could have eased their relegation fears with a win, but instead, following Catania's 3-0 win over Parma yesterday, finished the weekend just one point clear of the drop zone.

Meanwhile, Samp, three points off the Europa League places, can look in the other direction.

The visitors jumped out of the traps as Pozzi won the ball off Christian Zapata and fired wide from the edge of the area.

At the other end, Alexis Sanchez wasted a great chance as he collected a lovely ball from Di Natale in the area, allowing the ball to run too far and leaving the angle too tight. He eventually fired into the side netting.

It did not prove costly however as barely three minutes later his side were ahead.

Di Natale beat the offside trap and was brought down by Fabrizio Cacciatore.

The striker took the spot-kick himself and and fired comfortably past Marco Storari.

After 18 minutes, Udinese were close to doubling their lead as Gokhan Inler crossed low for Di Natale, who turned and shot, but Storari did well to push the ball away.

Again the hosts threatened as Sanchez got his head to the ball ahead of Storari, allowing Di Natale to shoot, but, under pressure from Daniele Gastaldello, his effort went over.

After 27 minutes, Samp were level and again it was from the penalty spot.

Simone Pepe brought down Pozzi after he was played in by Semioli and Pazzini converted, sending his penalty in off the inside of the post.

Isla sent Udinese in at the break ahead, though, collecting the ball from Aleksandar Lukovic and beating the offside trap, before sending the ball past Storari with a diagonal shot on the turn from the edge of the area.

The Bianconeri could have all but killed the game off 11 minutes into the second period, but first Isla's shot was deflected wide then, from the resulting corner, Zapata rose to head narrowly off target.

And just a minute later Samp were level again.

Semioli did well on the right before crossing to Pazzini, whose shot Samir Handanovic could only block into the path of Pozzi to slot home.

And the turnaround was complete when Fernando Tissone played in Semioli, unmarked and onside.

He controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot which Handanovic got a hand to but could not stop.

Pazzini could have added another but fired straight at the keeper when through one on one.