Sampdoria manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has said that he is delighted with his team's derby victory over Genoa.

Maxi Lopez's first-half goal gave the Blucerchiati a 1-0 win at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Monday evening, and Mihajlovic is pleased that they opened up an eight-point gap on the league's bottom three clubs.

"After the disappointment of the previous game, it was important to win," he told reporters.

"Beyond the fact that this was a derby, but because we are now eight points above the relegation zone.

"But now we are thinking towards a delicate game against Cagliari."

Sampdoria are currently 13th in the Serie A table.