Sampdoria booked their place in the UEFA Cup after a nervous 1-1 home draw with Croatian side Hajduk Split. That ensured a 2-1 aggregate victory after Sampdoria won the first leg 1-0, but they looked anything but sure of themselves in this game. Indeed, Hajduk took the game to their hosts in this clash, but unable to conjure an opening goal, Hajduk went behind against the run of play when Vincenzo Montella scored from the spot. Mirko Hrgovic pulled a late goal back for the Croatians, but it was not enough as Sampdoria ultimately progressed.

Sampdoria boss Walter Mazzarri opted for a 3-5-2 formation, pushing Claudio Bellucci up front alongside Montella and bringing Mirko Pieri and Paolo Sammarco into his starting line-up. Hajduk started with a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Mladen Bartolovic playing off the shoulder of striker Ante Rukavina. It was on loan midfielder Florin Cernat who lit up this contest, however, and he lead a constant procession towards Antonio Mirante's goal, with the ex-Juventus shot-stopper standing in for the injured Luca Castellazzi. The hosts took the lead against the run of play when Christian Maggio was tripped in the box, with Montella calmly converting the spot-kick.

With a two goal lead - including a precious away goal, Sampdoria eased up in the second half. With Romanian Cernat calling the shots for Hajduk that was perhaps not the most advisable strategy, however the Croats appeared to have lost hope in this tie, offering little in the way of constructive attacks for most of the second half. Finally Mirko Hrgovic hammered a free-kick in off the post with seven minutes remaining, to ensure a tense final few minutes for Sampdoria. With whistles echoing around the Stadio Luigi Ferraris the Genoan club managed to hang on and book their place in the UEFA Cup.

With clashes between supporters taking the focus off action on the pitch, new Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri will probably feel that this tie is best left forgotten. His team flattered to deceive over the two legs, and in truth they were probably outplayed by Hajduk for long stages of this clash. Nevertheless Sampdoria's professionalism probably saw them through, and they'll hope to overcome the first knock-out stage of the UEFA Cup. Hajduk were unlucky in this tie, but they'll have to content themselves with attempting to catch league leaders Dinamo Zagreb in their own domestic competition.