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| Adam Masina of Udinese (4th from R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and UC Sampdoria at Dacia Arena on May 8, 2023 in Udine, Italy. |
Bottom club Sampdoria have been relegated from Serie A following a 2-0 loss at Udinese, ending an 11-year stay.
Two first-half goals condemned Sampdoria, who were left 13 points from safety with four rounds remaining.
Spezia and Cremonese are the other teams in the relegation zone and they are three and six points, respectively, behind 17th-placed Hellas Verona.
Sampdoria, who won just two matches since the start of the year, were behind on Monday in the ninth minute. Festy Ebosele ran almost the entire length of the field before sending the ball through to Roberto Pereyra, who lifted it above goalkeeper Nicola Ravaglia.
Adam Masina doubled Udinese’s lead in the 34th when he headed in a chipped pass from Sandi Lovric.
Samp almost got back into the match 12 minutes into the second half but Manolo Gabbiadini’s effort came off the right post.
Empoli are all but assured of safety after beating fellow strugglers Salernitana 2-1, ending the latter’s 10-match unbeaten run.
Nicolo Cambiaghi headed Empoli in front shortly before half-time and Francesco Caputo doubled the home side’s advantage in the 63rd.
Krzysztof Piatek pulled one back five minutes from time but it wasn’t enough for Salernitana.
Domenico Berardi scored for Sassuolo and Nicolas Dominguez for Bologna in a 1-1 draw in the last game.
