Sampdoria have closed in on the Champions League qualification places after beating Chievo at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

The Blucerchiati had to wait until first-half stoppage time before taking the lead when Alessio Romagnoli's corner was met by the left boot of Daniele Gastadello, who duly tucked the ball into the bottom right corner of Francesco Bardi's net.

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Moments earlier, the visitors could have taken the lead when Alberto Paloschi's cross reached the feet of Perparim Hetemaj following a fast counter-attack, but his effort was narrowly wide.

Samp were made to wait for a second goal until the 80th minute when Romagnoli fired Stefano Okaka's corner home from close range.

Chievo pulled a goal back in injury time when Hetemaj played in Paloschi, with the forward finding the net.

However, it proved too little, too late as Sampdoria moved into fourth in the Serie A table, four points behind leaders Juventus.