Sampdoria moved back up to fourth but they made hard work of defeating a Chievo team who played with 10 men in the second half.

Luciano saw red for the Flying Donkeys in the 45th minute and with his side trailing to Marco Rossi's 19th-minute goal, it looked like being a long afternoon for the visitors.

Giampaolo Pazzini doubled Samp's advantage but Chievo hit back through a Andrea Mantovani effort with 10 minutes to go.

Samp held on though to move within a point of second-placed AC Milan and give coach Luigi Del Neri a win against the side with whom he made his name.

The early stages were cagey with neither side really creating much.

Chievo threatened when Elvis Abbruscato whipped in a cross towards Sergio Pellissier but, just as the striker was poised to shoot from close range, Daniele Gastaldello nipped in to clear.

And the visitors had another half chance after 16 minutes with Michele Marcolini shooting over from 25 yards.

Samp struggled to gain any momentum going forward in the opening exchanges but that all changed when Andrea Poli hammered in a long-range effort which Rossi deflected on goal, the ball wrong-footing Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

Sorrentino did better after 32 minutes, saving well from Antonio Cassano after the Italy playmaker curled one towards the top corner from 20 yards.

Chievo were still looking dangerous on the break and Samp keeper Luca Castellazzi had to be alert to keep out Mario Yepes' 25-yard drive after 41 minutes.

The Verona-based outfit came close again when, on the stroke of half-time, Pellissier saw an effort chalked off for offside after he had slotted past Castellazzi.

Chievo's frustration boiled over and Luciano took his protestations too far with a verbal volley at the referee which resulted in his second yellow card of the afternoon.

Samp made the most of the man advantage initially.

Cassano saw a shot deflected wide after nonchalantly taking down a Rossi pass while Pazzini just failed to convert an inviting cross from Gastaldello.

The influential Cassano then struck a post as the pressure grew on the Chievo defence.

And it finally buckled for a second time after 65 minutes. Marco Padalino and Cassano played a neat one-two which led to the former Real Madrid man crossing for Pazzini to tap in from close range.

Cassano, now rampant, had another shot on goal saved by Sorrentino as Samp threatened to run riot.

Chievo bravely rallied and substitute Erjon Bogdani almost pulled one back but narrowly failed to get on the end of a Marcolini free-kick.

Domenico Di Carlo's men did get on the scoresheet with 10 minutes to go, however, Mantovani scrambling the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.

The hosts appealed for a handball but the referee was unmoved.

Chievo came again three minutes later as they went in search of a shock equaliser but Castellazzi produced a fine save to keep out Luca Ariatti's effort.

Samp nearly added a third with three minutes to go but Sorrentino pulled off a wonder stop to deny Pazzini.