Domenico Berardi’s first half shot hitting the post was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock as Sampdoria and Sassuolo drew 0-0 in Monday’s Italian Serie A clash.
A game of few chances saw five yellow cards, with visitors Sassuolo going closest through Berardi’s effort.
Berardi was among the players cautioned, along with team-mates Marlon Santos and Federico Di Francesco, plus the Sampdoria pair of Joachim Andersen and Edgar Barreto.
Sampdoria stay fifth in the table, three places above Sassuolo but 10 points beind leaders Juventus, and there was precious little for the home fans to cheer on a frustrating night.
Techincal issues with the VAR system meant a delayed start to the second half, and Berardi remained the player most likely to score as he posed a constant threat to Sampdoria’s defence.
Sampdoria’s best chance of the second period came late on when former Fiorentina player Riccardo Saponara, on as a substitute for an injured Gaston Ramirez, fired a volley just over the bar.
