Sampdoria 1 - 0 Empoli : Eder strike boosts Sampdoria

A single second-half goal from Eder was enough to boost Sampdoria to a 1-0 Serie A victory over Empoli at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The Brazilian striker broke the deadlock shortly after half-time and while 15th-placed Empoli did well to resist conceding another goal, they were toothless in attack and left the Marassi empty-handed.

A fifth home victory of the season steered Samp onto 40 points and into a share of fourth place with Rafael Benitez's Napoli, who host reigning champions and current league leaders Juventus later on Sunday.

Promoted Empoli, meanwhile, are without a win in six games having only mustered three goals during that run.

The first half was evenly matched but provided little for fans of either team to get excited about.

Empoli's Simone Verdi shot over the crossbar in the early exchanges and Pedro Obiang soon came closer to scoring at the other end only for Luigi Sepe to make a strong diving save.

With inspiration still thin on the ground Eder blasted over in the 22nd minute and, deep into first-half stoppage time, Alfred Duncan skipped past two Empoli defenders before whipping the ball beyond the top corner.

Eder ensured the second half would start with a bang as he rifled his fifth goal of the season past Sepe following a swift one-two exchange with Gonzalo Bergessio in the 49th minute.

The Brazilian fancied a quick-fire second but was denied by Sepe and, in the 72nd minute, Emiliano Viviano had to look lively to keep out a swerving effort from Manuel Pucciarelli.

Despite Empoli's impotence Samp would have liked to notch a second goal to finish the game off in the final exchanges but substitute Stefano Okaka could not deliver it as he blasted over in stoppage time.