Sampdoria climbed to fifth in Serie A after a narrow 1-0 win over struggling Juventus in Genoa.

Antonio Cassano scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute, a breathtaking shot from 32 yards out which stunned Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti, to hand the Blucerchiati three valuable points.

Cassano spotted the Juve keeper off his line and got what proved to be the match-winner on target.

The Samp hero celebrated briefly before asking to come off with a suspected thigh injury.

The result has lifted Samp level on 47 points with Palermo, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Meanwhile, Juventus are two points further adrift in sixth place.

Juve went into the game looking to put a dismal week behind them.

Alberto Zaccheroni's men were held to a 3-3 draw by lowly Siena last Sunday while they crashed out from the Europa League at the hands of Fulham in midweek.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg, the Turin outfit lost 4-1 in London.

With Juve goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Alex Manninger still out through injury, Chimenti again started in goal.

Alessandro Del Piero was Juve's most dangerous player but despite having numerous chances to find the net, the Bianconeri number 10 was unable to beat Sampdoria goalkeeper Marco Storari.

In the fifth minute, Nicola Legrottaglie latched onto Del Piero's cross and his close-range header went over the bar.

The hosts had their first chance in the 21st minute.

Franco Semioli passed to Stefano Guberti on the edge of the area and his strike went wide.

Midway through the first half, Vincenzo Iaquinta should have broken the deadlock.

The Italy international collected Christian Poulsen's pass but his 12-yard effort went just wide of the far post.

Juve continued to surge forward and on the half-hour mark, Claudio Marchisio's strike from the edge of the area had power but lacked precision.

Cassano should have made Juve pay for their missed chances in the 35th minute but his close-range header was blocked by a Juve defender.

Storari then parried away Fabio Cannavaro's header from Diego's cross.

Shortly after, Del Piero got on to Fabio Grosso's cross and nodded just wide.

At the other end, Chimenti did well to clear Giampaolo Pazzini's dangerous effort from Cassano's pass.

Chimenti was called again into action shortly after, with Cassano's shot towards the centre of goal saved by the keeper.

Cassano almost put his team in front before the break.

Guberti spotted Cassano inside the area and he fired inches wide of the near post.

It took 13 minutes for the first effort of the second half with Del Piero firing just over the bar from fully 33 yards out.

Shortly after the hour mark, Pazzini's right-footed volley went wide.

The Blucerchiati went in front soon after.

Chimenti got a touch on Cassano's strike but it was not enough to deflect the ball away from goal.

It proved a hammer blow for Juve, who failed to put a good move together in the latter stages of the game.

With five minutes remaining, Chimenti made a good save from Emanuele Testardi's left-footed shot in what looked to be Samp's second of the evening.