Ukrainian outfit Metalist Kharkiv ramped up the pressure on Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri, as the visitors beat the Genoa-based club 1-0 in front of a stunned Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The win gives the Ukrainian side the upper hand going into the second leg of this tie in Kharkiv, and they just about deserved to claim victory in what was a relatively lacklustre affair. Sampdoria will be desperate to turn things around as quickly as possible, with their European aspirations currently hanging by a thread.

The hosts were missing a raft of personnel for this one, with Pietro Accardi, Daniele Gastadello, Hugo Campagnaro, Gennaro Delvecchio and Bruno Fornaroli ruled out through injury, while recent arrival Giampaolo Pazzini was cup-tied. Coach Mazzarri nevertheless stuck to his usual 3-5-2 formation, with Daniele  Dessena and Reto Ziegler handed rare starts in midfield. Metalist Kharkiv had no personnel concerns going into this clash, however coach Myron Markevych nevertheless deployed a conservative line-up, with Brazilian Jaja the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.

With Sampdoria currently out of form and Metalist determined to defend, the opening phases of this clash were predictably bogged down in a midfield battle. Marco Padalino blasted in one strike that flew narrowly wide, before Luca Castellazzi got down well to keep out a Jaja effort. Valentyn Sliusar then blasted over the crossbar when it looked easier to score, but with Metalist beginning to dominate it was no surprise to see them take the lead in first half stoppage time, as Denys Oliynyk rose highest to nod home Olexandr Rykun's cross.

Not surprisingly Sampdoria were desperate to reassert themselves in the second half, but Claudio Bellucci failed to get passed alert Metalist defender Papa Gueye with an early effort. Luca Castellazzi was then called upon to make a save from dangerous Oliynyk, before substitute Paolo Sammarco clipped the top of the crossbar for the increasingly desperate hosts. Andrea Raggi then missed a sitter when he headed wide from in front of goal, as Metalist managed to survive the late onslaught to take a narrow 1-0 back to Ukraine.

Sampdoria will be desperate to overcome this latest set-back in the second leg of this tie in Kharkiv. They didn't look particularly impressive here, although coach Mazzarri will at least be pleased that his team managed to fashion some opportunities in this game. For Metalist, however, this was a game plan perfectly executed. After three 1-0 victories in the group stage their tight defence once again came to the fore, and they will surely fancy their chances of progressing following this excellent result.