Sampdoria drew with Parma 1-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.

A goal from Éder moments before half time gave Sampdoria the lead. Alessandro Luccarelli headed in from a Palladino corner to level matters midway through the second half.

The first half was one of few chances, for the main part only coming to life in the form of swift counter attacks as neither side seemed capable of maintaining possession and both resorted to playing long balls. Sampdoria looked the more threatening and Parma struggled to create clear cut chances without the suspended Antonio Cassano.

Gianluca Sansone forced the first save of the game midway through the first half from Antonio Mirante with a free kick from some distance which looked to be creeping in at the near post until Mirante pushed it around the post for a corner.

Nicola Sansone fired over narrowly from just inside the area. Moments later Sansone narrowly placed a free kick wide from a central position at the other end.

However, on the stroke of half time it was the home side who struck first with a goal from Éder. Nenad Krsticic whipped in a free kick from the touch line and it was Éder, who managed to hold off his marker, was able to fire the ball low past Mirante from inside the area. Parma protested that Éder had fouled his marker in the build up to the goal but to no avail.

After the restart Sampdoria pressed and almost doubled their lead within seconds after a low cross was cleared just before Krsticic could make contact from only a few yards out.

Parma began to see more of the ball and after the introduction of Raffaele Palladino they were playing with more intent. Luccarelli was soon the beneficiary from Palladino’s corner, levelling matters with a free header in the six yard box.

Angelo Da Costa had to be at his best during the following 10 minutes as he kept out Amauri at his feet and then pulled off a fine diving save from Sansone as Parma applied more pressure.

Parolo then wasted a good chance after being through by Amauri as his tame shot was stopped easily as the game entered the closing minutes.

Éder tested Mirante with a stinging shot and after a break due to an injured linesman it was Nicola Pozzi who narrowly missed with a lobbed effort from an acute angle.

Only frantic and spirited defending in the closing moments from the Sampdoria back line kept Parma from snatching the winning goal.