Manolo Gabbiadini and a splendid Stefano Okaka solo run allowed Sampdoria to sweep Torino aside 2-0.

Both sides started the season with a draw, so were eager to get a victory under their belts. Vasco Regini was suspended following his red card in Palermo, so Matias Silvestre made his debut. The visitors missed Paulo Vitor Barreto, Migjen Basha and Alexander Farnerud, but Fabio Quagliarella returned to Marassi against his former club. Matteo Darmian was a last-minute absentee due to sinusitis.

Roberto Soriano’s pull-back flashed past several Samp teammates in the six-yard box and nobody was able to get the decisive touch.

Manolo Gabbiadini and Eder attempted from distance, but Soriano earned a decisive free kick that got Kamil Glik booked on the edge of the box.

Gabbiadini made the most of it, firing a low and hard set piece into the bottom corner. It was his first Serie A goal since March and found a gap in the Toro wall.

Emiliano Moretti and Quagliarella turned over, as did a Gabbiadini curler, while Amauri made his Granata debut. Immediately Torino seemed more lively and Antonio Nocerino’s volley was charged down from point-blank range.

However, Gabbiadini almost completed a brace of free kicks, this time curling it over the wall to thump the crossbar.

Torino had penalty appeals waved away for a Fabrizio Cacciatore challenge on Quagliarella.

Sampdoria consolidated their lead thanks to a wonderful solo effort from Okaka. He ran halfway up the field, much of it with Moretti dragging him back from the jersey, flicked the ball round Glik and swept home the angled drive.

This goal may well be a turning point for ex-Roma and Fulham striker Okaka, who had spent much of the game protesting the lack of free kicks awarded in his favour.