Bari 0 : 1 Sampdoria - Bari relegated after defeat

Sampdoria condemned Bari to Serie B football for next season and climbed out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at the San Nicola stadium.

Nicola Pozzi scored the only goal from the penalty spot before the hour mark after Bari's Erik Huseklepp had brought down Andrea Poli inside the area.

Samp ended the game with 10 men after Poli was sent off for dissent deep in stoppage time.

The result leaves Bari at the foot of the standings and unable to catch Sampdoria, who hold the last position of safety.

Bari are 14 points behind Samp with four games remaining.

The result marked Alberto Cavasin's first win since taking over as Samp coach back in March and has left the Blucerchiati level on 35 points with third-bottom Lecce.

The visitors had the first chance in the 20th minute. Zsolt Laczko fed Pozzi inside the area and his left-footed strike was kept out by Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet.

Midway through the first half, Pozzi should have put Sampdoria ahead but his close-range effort went over the bar.

Samp continued to press forward and had another good opportunity in the 36th minute. Stefano Guberti passed the ball towards an unmarked Massimo Maccarone and he fired wide of the far post from a good position.

For all their efforts, Samp could have trailed before half-time as Bari twice had the chance to go in front.

Emanuele Rivas surged inside the area and he struck wide, and seconds later Gergely Rudolf's 15-yard attempt went over the bar.

Samp dominated possession early in the second half and were given a helping hand when the referee pointed to the spot after Poli went down inside the area.

Pozzi coolly struck the ball towards the bottom left corner to give Gillet no chance.

Bari could have equalised in the 73rd minute. Alessandro Gazzi served Rudolf inside the area but his left-footed strike from 12 yards was off target.