Sampdoria ‘no longer relegated from Serie B' with iconic club ‘revived' just four days after they were doomed
Another struggling side is now in big trouble
SERIE DECIDER Sampdoria 'no longer relegated from Serie B' with iconic club 'revived' just four days after they were doomed
SAMPDORIA will no longer be automatically relegated from Serie B – just four days after they were doomed to life in Italy's third tier.
The iconic club set European football alight in the late 80s and early 90s, culminating in Serie A glory in 1991.
1
Sampdoria will no longer be automatically relegated from Serie B after being handed a shock lifeline
Credit: Getty
The same period also saw Sampdoria clinch four Italian Cups and a European Cup Winners' Cup thanks to the prowess of stars like Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini.
But their fortunes have since steadily declined, eventually resulting in a shock relegation to Serie B in 2023.
However, the club has endured even more pain in the lower leagues.
And just four days ago, Sampdoria fans' worst fears were realised as they finished 18th to suffer automatic relegation to Serie C.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
PEP TALK Pep Guardiola's furious 5-word message to Dean Henderson 'revealed' by lipreader
Yet in a shock twist, they have now been handed a dramatic lifeline.
Fellow Serie B strugglers Brescia finished 15th this term, just two points ahead of Sampdoria.
But they have now been deducted four points as a penalty for financial issues, sending them to 18th place instead.
It means Sampdoria moved into 17th, and therefore have qualified for a relegation play-off against Salernitana, now in 16th.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Sampdoria take the place of Frosinone, who are the main beneficiaries of Bresca's points deduction and have confirmed their survival with a 15th-place finish.
But it gives Sampdoria a second bite of the cherry, with a two-legged tie now taking place to determine their fate.
Eight of the greatest players to never win the Ballon d'Or despite their incredible careers
It is certainly an ending dramatic enough to match their disastrous season, which has seen four managers enter the dugout.
Italy legend Andrea Pirlo was sacked in August after taking just one point from Sampdoria's opening three games.
Andrea Sottil and Leonardo Semplici were also given their marching orders, while Alberico Evani could now stay should the playoffs go his way.
Sampdoria used an incredible 38 players this season, including five different goalkeepers.
But they will be hoping star players like ex-Liverpool striker Fabio Borini and former England U21s ace Ronaldo Vieira can finally step up to the plate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
37 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
England footie ace Millie Bright misses OBE ceremony with Prince William as she's on crutches with knee injury
A source reveals how 'Millie and Dave's relationship has rocketed' MILLIE INJURY BLOW England footie ace Millie Bright misses OBE ceremony with Prince William as she's on crutches with knee injury Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIONESSES ace Millie Bright missed a date with Prince William yesterday — as she is on crutches. The England defender, 31, is recovering from surgery to fix a knee injury which forced her to pull out of the Euro 2025 squad. 3 Millie Bright is recovering from surgery to fix a knee injury Credit: Getty 3 Prince William with Everton manager David Moyes Credit: PA It also meant she missed her investiture at Windsor Castle, where she was due to receive an OBE. Instead, the Chelsea player hobbled along with her pet dog yesterday near her Surrey home. It comes after The Sun revealed she had split from her fiancé. An onlooker said: 'Millie's had a chaotic few weeks with news of her split and pulling out of the England squad. "But she's as tough in real life as she is on the pitch.' We revealed on Saturday how Millie had fallen for a personal trainer, and named him yesterday as married dad-of-seven Dave Zetolofsky, 39. England's World Cup captain last week made herself unavailable for this summer's Euros — stating she was unable to 'give 100 per cent mentally or physically'. She was said to be in turmoil after splitting from hubby-to-be Levi Crew and growing close to tattooed martial arts enthusiast Dave, who has been seen moving into her property. However, she has told friends her new romance has nothing to do with her squad withdrawal. There is also no suggestion that the pair cheated on their partners. Dave's wife Katie is said to be 'devastated'. A source said yesterday: 'Millie and Dave's relationship has rocketed. STAR'S NEW LOVE England footie ace Millie Bright's hunky new personal trainer lover revealed as kickboxer dad of SEVEN "They are smitten. It's tough on their former partners but they are trying to navigate through the turbulence as best they can and concentrate on a future together.' Millie was awarded her OBE after winning the 2022 Euros and captaining England to the 2023 World Cup final. Everton manager David Moyes was among those to receive the gong yesterday, and revealed he and Aston Villa fan Wills discussed football.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
When is Rangers Champions League draw and who could Russell Martin's side face in qualifiers?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN only started work as the new Rangers head coach this week. But time doesn't wait for anyone - especially not in Scottish football - and particularly when it comes to the Champions League qualifiers this summer. 2 Rangers will be back in the Champions League draw again Credit: Getty 2 Rangers lost in Champions League qualifying to Dynamo Kyiv last year Credit: PA Rangers will enter Uefa's top competition at the second qualifying round stage. Winning that tie is of paramount importance to Gers as it will significantly impact how difficult it could become to secure European group stage football of some sort for the season ahead. The Light Blues made another deep run in Europe last season, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League before losing to Athletic Bilbao. They'll start a level above for this campaign and will hope to improve on their last showing in the Champions League proper when they finished with the worst record of any team during the 2022-23 season (Gers failed to qualify at all last year). Here's all you need to know for the Champions League draw, when Rangers will find out who they play. When is the Champions League second qualifying round draw? The Champions League second qualifying round draw will be held on Wednesday, June 18 It will be held at the House of European Football in Berne, Switzerland Proceedings will get underway at around 11am UK time Are Rangers seeded for the draw? Yes, Rangers are seeded for the Champions League second qualifying round draw Their club coefficient ensures they will be in the League Path for the qualifying rounds For the second qualifying round, they are seeded alongside Red Bull Salzburg and Viktoria Plzen Who could Rangers face in the Champions League second qualifying round? Rangers will face either Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann in the Champions League second qualifying round All three of those teams are unseeded Like Rangers, all three of those sides finished second in their respective leagues When are the the Champions League second qualifying round fixtures? The first leg of the ties will take place on 22/23 July The second legs will be held on 29/30 July What happens if Rangers lose in the second qualifying round? If Rangers lose in the second qualifying round, they will drop into the Europa League third qualifying round as an UNSEEDED team. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers That would put them at the mercy of some strong sides on the continent. Anderlecht, Braga, Midtjylland and PAOK are all confirmed as seeded sides in the Europa League third qualifying round. Those fixtures are scheduled for 7 and 14 August and there is NO parachute into the Europa Conference League league phase for the losers at this stage. Instead, Gers would face a play-off to reach the group stages. It's hard to say whether the Glasgow side would be seeded here or not as the 26 winners of the Conference League's third qualifying round and the other four would-be losers in the Europa League third qualifying round are obviously yet to be determined. Of the team current in the picture though, only Serie A outfit Fiorentina have a higher club coefficient than Gers. But in the worst case scenario, Rangers would be OUT of Europe by the middle of August. What happens if Rangers win in the Champions League second qualifying round? A win in the the second qualifying round would guarantee group stage football for Russell Martin's Gers. That's because the losers of the Champions League third qualifying round drop into the league phase of the Europa League. And if Rangers win the third qualifying round tie as well then they would of course go into the play-off round. It's straightforward from there: win and it's into the Champions League proper, lose and it's the Europa League league phase once again. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Wesley Ward absent from Royal Ascot this year
Hugely impressive on his Churchill Downs debut, the Speightstown colt looked a major contender for the Norfolk Stakes but will not be making the trip across the Atlantic. Ward said: 'He had a a nice breeze yesterday (Tuesday) on the grass here in Keeneland and unfortunately he came out with just a hair of a shin (problem), which 90 per cent of all two-year-olds get and it's just unfortunate it's right on the heels of Ascot. 'We're here and not over there though, that's one good thing. He didn't have to leave Keeneland, so that was good.' Outfielder debuts the best for trainer Wesley Ward and @ljlmvel! ⚾️ — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 23, 2025 Part-owned by Amo Racing, Outfielder could still be seen in action on European soil this summer, with August's Prix Morny at Deauville – a Group One Ward has previously won with No Nay Never (2013), Lady Aurelia (2016) and Campanelle (2020) – under consideration. 'Our original plan was to go for the Norfolk and then the Prix Morny, so we'll just train him into the Morny if all goes to plan,' the trainer added. Few in Europe had heard of Washington-born Ward when he first came to Ascot in 2009, but it did not take him long to make a big impression, with Strike The Tiger becoming the first American-trained horse to win at the Royal meeting when landing the Windsor Castle Stakes. The very next day Ward was on the mark again with Jealous Again in the Queen Mary and he has sent horses to Berkshire in all but one of the subsequent 14 years, amassing a dozen winners in the process. The ebullient handler will be conspicuous by his absence in 2025, but he is not too downbeat. 'I'll still enjoy watching it here, that's for sure,' he said. 'This was the 16th year we were getting ready to go over there. My eldest son Riley has been going every year since I started and he's got all these friends that he's met that go back and forward between American and the the UK, so he's the one that's gutted the most out of the whole family. 'Outfielder was obviously meant to be making the trip and we had another couple lined up and had some breezes on Monday, but while the breezes were good they weren't Royal Ascot-winning good. 'You know me, I'm pretty positive and excited, but if I'm not thinking they've got big chances when it's a lot of money to go over there for the owners… I want to make sure at least going into it that you think you have a winner.'
