U.C. Sampdoria returned to Serie A after a four year-absence, and immediately re-established itself as a team on the top half of the domestic championship. Goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli offered crucial experience, but apart from him did the bulk of the squad play in the 2002-03 Serie B, with top goalscorers Fabio Bazzani and Francesco Flachi quickly adjusting themselves to the higher pace of Serie A. Midfielders Sergio Volpi and Angelo Palombo also stood out. Right back Aimo Diana even earned a call-up to the national team following his performances. Squad Goalkeepers Francesco Antonioli Luigi Turci Emanuele Bianchi Defenders Stefano Bettarini Moris Carrozzieri Mirko Conte Giulio Falcone Aimo Diana Nenad Sakić Stefano Sacchetti Cristian Zenoni Midfielders Sergio Volpi Angelo Palombo Biagio Pagano Bratislav Živković Francesco Pedone Cristiano Doni Massimo Donati Luca Antonini Fabian Valtolina Attackers Giacomo Cipriani Fabio Bazzani Francesco Flachi Atsushi Yanagisawa Antonio Floro Flores Thomas Job Serie A Matches Reggina-Sampdoria 2-2 1-0 Francesco Cozza (5) 2-0 David Di Michele (41) 2-1 Fabio Bazzani (64) 2-2 Aimo Diana (73) Sampdoria-Lazio 1-2 0-1 Simone Inzaghi (9) 0-2 Demetrio Albertini (64 pen) 1-2 Fabio Bazzani (73) Inter-Sampdoria 0-0 Sampdoria-Brescia 2-1 0-1 Stefano Mauri (69) 1-1 Fabio Bazzani (88) 2-1 Francesco Flachi (90 + 1 pen) Parma-Sampdoria 1-0 1-0 Adriano (19) Chievo-Sampdoria 1-1 1-0 Amauri (24) 1-1 Aimo Diana (59) Sampdoria-Milan 0-3 0-1 Jon Dahl Tomasson (38) 0-2 Andriy Shevchenko (59) 0-3 Andriy Shevchenko (90 + 2) Bologna-Sampdoria 0-1 0-1 Cristiano Doni (33) Sampdoria-Empoli 2-0 1-0 Fabio Bazzani (21) 2-0 Cristiano Doni (27) Lecce-Sampdoria 0-0 Sampdoria-Ancona 2-0 1-0 Fabio Bazzani (67) 2-0 Francesco Flachi (89) Sampdoria-Siena 2-1 1-0 Francesco Flachi (1) 1-1 Roberto D'Aversa (38) 2-1 Fabio Bazzani (72) Perugia-Sampdoria 3-3 0-1 Francesco Flachi (16) 1-1 Giovanni Ignoffo (38) 2-1 Massimo Margiotta (55) 3-1 Giovanni Tedesco (58) 3-2 Michele Tardioli (60 og) 3-3 Francesco Flachi (89) Sampdoria-Modena 1-1 0-1 Diomansy Kamara (22) 1-1 Fabio Bazzani (50) Udinese-Sampdoria 0-1 0-1 Francesco Flachi (57) Sampdoria-Juventus 1-2 0-1 Mauro Camoranesi (23) 1-1 Francesco Flachi (56) 1-2 Antonio Conte (64) Roma-Sampdoria 3-1 0-1 Fabio Bazzani (6) 1-1 John Carew (10) 2-1 Francesco Totti (61) 3-1 Francesco Totti (67) Sampdoria-Reggina 2-0 1-0 Fabio Bazzani (45) 2-0 Fabio Bazzani (47) Lazio-Sampdoria 1-1 1-0 Stefano Fiore (11) 1-1 Fabio Bazzani (50) Sampdoria-Inter 2-2 0-1 Christian Vieri (31) 1-1 Giacomo Cipriani (56) 1-2 Christian Vieri (79) 2-2 Cristiano Doni (85 pen) Brescia-Sampdoria 1-1 1-0 Andrea Caracciolo (5) 1-1 Cristiano Doni (56)