Sampdoria-Milan: 1-4 - Serie A 2019/2020. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Luigi Ferraris
City: Genova
Capacity for: 36685 people18:55

Hello and welcome to our live text coverage of the Serie A clash between Sampdoria and Milan at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.18:55

Following a run of three wins on the spin that lifted them away from relegation trouble, Sampdoria enter this match on the back of successive defeats at the hands of Genoa and Juventus. Claudio Ranieri's side are 15th in the table and can still finish in the top half, although they will have to win both of their remaining games at the very least for that to happen.19:14

Milan played out a 1-1 draw with Atalanta last time out to make it 11 games without defeat in all competitions since returning to action last month. Stefano Pioli was rewarded for his side's form with a new two-year deal last week and the target now is to catch Roma, who are four points better off in fifth place - enough for automatic qualification to next season's Europa League.19:02

SAMPDORIA XI (4-4-1-1): Wladimiro Falcone; Bartosz Bereszynski, Maya Yoshida, Omar Colley, Tommaso Augello; Fabio Depaoli, Karol Linetty, Ronaldo Vieira, Jakub Jankto; Gaston Ramirez; Fabio Quagliarella (c).19:15

Subs: Mehdi Leris, Federico Bonazzoli, Nicola Murru, Kaique Rocha, Emil Audero, Kristoffer Askildsen, Lorenzo Tonelli, Gonzalo Maroni, Alex Ferrari, Manolo Gabbiadini, Antonino La Gumina, Andrea Bertolacci.19:10

MILAN XI (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma (c); Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer, Matteo Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Franck Kessie, Ismael Bennacer; Alexis Saelemaekers, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ante Rebic; Zlatan Ibrahimovic.19:13

Subs: Daniel Maldini, Leo Duarte, Samu Castillejo, Antonio Donnarumma, Diego Laxalt, Lucas Biglia, Lucas Paqueta, Marco Brescianini, Rade Krunic, Rafael Leao, Asmir Begovic, Giacomo Bonaventura.19:13

Sampdoria show four changes on the back of their 2-0 loss to Juventus on Sunday. Morten Thorsby is serving a ban and is replaced in central midfield by Vieira, while Falcone is in for Audero between the sticks. The other two changes come in defence as Bereszynski and Colley take over from Tonelli and Julian Chabot.20:30

Pioli has made a couple of tweaks to his starting XI following the draw with Atalanta five days ago. Hernandez and Bennacer, who were injured and suspended respectively last time out, return to the side in place of Laxalt and Biglia. The front four remains unchanged, with Ibrahimovic once again spearheading the attack.19:27

Sampdoria have won their last two home meetings with Milan and are looking to make it three in a row for the first time ever. However, the Blucerchiati have won just twice in their last 14 encounters with today's opponents overall, losing half of those matches.19:05

Both sets of players are making their way down the tunnel at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris and kick-off is now moments away. This game will be played behind closed doors, which has been the case in every Serie A fixture since last month's restart.19:29

KICK-OFF! Milan, looking to keep alive their slim hopes of catching Roma in fourth, get us up and running in their final away outing of the campaign.19:33

Milan have seen plenty of the ball in the early stages. Sampdoria turn over possession and attempt to get it forward quickly but are prevented from doing so.19:37

Rebic did very well to turn his man inside out down the left, but questions have to be asked of Sampdoria's defending. Ibrahimovic was left all alone right in front of goal.19:38

Milan are full of confidence and playing some really nice football. It could be a busy day for Falcone, who is making his first appearance for Sampdoria in goal.19:39

DOUBLE SAVE! Hernandez plays a one-two with Rebic inside the box, side-steps inside and is denied by a decent stop from Falcone down low. Sampdoria fail to clear their lines and Calabria's shot from further out is parried by debutant Falcone.19:41

WIDE! Linetty turns Kessie with ease and is invited to shoot after carrying the ball forward. The effort is a fair way off target but that is an encouraging sign for the hosts - the first time they have managed to get forward.19:42

ANOTHER GOOD SAVE! Milan look as though they have plenty of goals in them today. Rebic is slipped in by Calhanoglu but his low shot is saved by Falcone's outstretched leg.19:44

Rebic is penalised for shoving an opposition player down Milan's left. It has been one-way traffic in the opening 13 minutes at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.19:45

Donnarumma punches the ball into the air and Jankto meets it on the volley 25 yards out. He gets his contact all wrong and it flies way off target.19:48

The last five minutes have been a lot better from Sampdoria. Depaoli is played in down the right and has options, though in the end he is caught in two minds and the attempt is a mix between a shot and a cross.19:49

Saelemaekers produces a good block inside the box to prevent Jankto from getting a clean shot away. Milan dominated the first 12 minutes or so but have been second best since then.19:52

Calabria is down receiving some treatment, leading to a short stoppage in play. The Milan full-back looks as though he will be okay to continue.19:54

Saelemaekers tries to pick out the bottom-right corner with a shot that is blocked in front of goal. The dangerous Milan attack ends with a corner being won, which Colley gets his head to first.19:55

SHOT! The ball is worked to Ramirez on the edge of the box. He turns and gets a shot away, but it is an awkward effort and Donnarumma has the simplest of saves to make down the middle.19:56

Milan had scored 28 goals in 10 games post-lockdown in Serie A prior to this meeting with Sampdoria - as many as they had scored in their previous 26 games of the season.19:59

Play resumes following the first cooling break of the contest. Milan have dropped off a fair bit after making an impressive start, but Sampdoria have not really put them under much pressure.20:00

Quagliarella is picked out by a cross from the right. The ball bounces awkwardly and he is unable to pick out the target with his first-time shot.20:02

BRILLIANT SAVE! Hernandez cuts the ball back to Ibrahimovic, who is again left pretty much unmarked near the penalty spot. The shot deflects off Yoshida and Falcone does well to make a save down low.20:03

The ball lands at the feet of Gabbia 25 yards from goal. He decides to take on the shot and perhaps wishes he had not - it is well off target.20:04

Milan appear to have found their rhythm again after dropping off the pace for 15 minutes or so. Pioli will perhaps feel that his side deserve more than a one-goal lead as we fast approach half-time.20:06

Ibrahimovic tries to flick the ball through for Rebic. It hits Bereszynski on the arm and a free-kick is awarded to Milan around 25 yards from goal. Bereszynski is issued a yellow card.20:09

Calhanoglu lifts the free-kick over the Sampdoria wall but it has too much whip on it and skims the side-netting on its way behind.20:10

OVER! Hernandez is having plenty of joy down the Sampdoria right. He charges forward and picks out Saelemaekers, who shoots high and wide from a promising position. Milan are knocking on the door for a second goal.20:11

Ibrahimovic plays a smart reverse pass in behind but it is just out of Saelemaekers' reach, with Falcone able to gather.20:13

Great defending from Kjaer to initially cut out a right-sided cross before Quagliarella could meet it and then to get to the next cross from the opposite flank.20:14

In fact, it was Bennacer who cut out the first of those crosses in the previous Sampdoria attack, which culminated in Jankto heading off target.20:15

Saelemaekers is played into acres of space down the right. He attempts to pick out Ibrahimovic but the pass is cut out and Falcone pounces on the loose ball. Ibrahimovic feels it was a back-pass but the referee disagrees.20:17

Calhanoglu shifts the ball inside and hammers a shot into the stands from 22 yards. Poor effort.20:18

Calabria does well to keep the ball in play down the right but his cross into the centre is met by a Sampdoria player. Three of the four added minutes have been played at the end of an entertaining first half.20:33

Rebic and Ramirez exchange words after the former caught his opponent with his arm. Ramirez, already sporting a bandaged head, is in need of some treatment.20:23

Rebic is booked for that incident involving Ramirez. He caught his opponent with his elbow but there did not appear to be any malice in it.20:24

HALF-TIME: SAMPDORIA 0-1 MILAN20:25

Milan take a one-goal lead into half-time thanks to Ibrahimovic's header inside the opening four minutes. The visitors had chances to double their tally but Ibrahimovic was denied a second by a fine Falcone save, while Hernandez and Rebic were also thwarted by the debutant goalkeeper.20:28

Pioli will be pleased with the first-half display from his side, even if they do only have a one-goal lead to show for it. Sampdoria had a good 10-minute spell when on top, but they have yet to manage a serious attempt on target yet.20:32

Ramirez, who has been through the wars in Sampdoria's last two matches, is replaced by Maroni for the start of the second half.20:39

Depaoli is off and Leris on in the second of Sampdoria's half-time changes.20:40

Milan boss Pioli has also made a substitution, bringing on Leao for Rebic in attack.20:40

RESTART! Sampdoria, trailing to an early Ibrahimovic header, gets us back under way at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Will the half-time changes make any difference for the hosts?20:40

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's strike after three minutes and 22 seconds was his fastest for Milan. The previous quickest he had netted for the Rossoneri before today came in the first five minutes against Inter in November 2010. 20:40

Rebic is suspended for Milan's last match, incidentally, so that is the last we will see of him in Serie A this season. Leao has made an impact since coming on but the end product is lacking.20:42

Milan have had 59 per cent of the ball so far today and have undoubtedly been the better side. However, Sampdoria have enjoyed the odd promising spell in possession and will fancy their chances of snatching a point as long as it remains just the one goal in it.20:49

SAVE! Quagliarella tries to spin in behind but is prevented from doing so by Gabbia. The referee awards a free-kick 20 yards out and Quagliarella powers it through the wall. It is a good save by Donnarumma down low, with Colley heading over from the rebound.20:49

GOAL DISALLOWED! Ibrahimovic heads the ball back across goal and Calhanoglu fires it home. The referee rules it out for a possible tug from Calhanoglu on Vieira's shit, but VAR is going to check...20:49

Ibrahimovic has an assist to add to his early goal. It was a nice, cushioned header from the striker into the path of Calhanoglu.21:07

That second goal has given Milan some breathing space and it is deserved on the basis of the opening 54 minutes. The visitors will now be looking to build on their lead.20:52

This is now Milan attacker Hakan Calhanoglu's most prolific top-flight season, having scored nine goals (one more than 2014-15 with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga).20:53

Like the rest of his team-mates, Calhanoglu is clearly full of confidence. He plays a no-look assist into the path of Ibrahimovic and the prolific striker was never going to miss.20:55

Quagliarella's attempt is kept out by Donnarumma, who has had a pretty quiet game up until now. As things stand, Milan are one point behind fifth-placed Roma, who travel to Torino a little later.20:57

With the points now very much in the bag, Pioli brings on Castillejo for Calabria.20:58

Bonaventura is also introduced with a little over an hour played, taking over from the impressive Calhanoglu.20:58

Ibrahimovic is unable to get to Hernandez's deep cross. Sampdoria are struggling to keep pace with their opponents now - Milan could easily add more goals to their tally at this rate.21:00

SHOT! Maroni has a go from a long way out. The shot is central and Donnarumma has another routine save to make. Still, at least the home side are starting to register some efforts on target now.21:01

Hernandez shifts the ball to Ibrahimovic, who helps it on to Bonaventura. The substitute midfielder's shot deflects behind for another Milan corner.21:02

NEARLY! Leao gets away from his man and, despite the angle being against him, tries to catch out Falcone at his near post. The Sampdoria keeper stands his ground and makes the save.21:03

Maroni links up with fellow substitute Leris in the Milan box. The latter lifts the ball towards the centre of the box but it is a Milan head that gets to it first.21:05

Gabbiadini is one for Quagliarella as Ranieri makes his final batch of substitutions.20:15

Linetty makes way for Askildsen with a little over 15 minutes to go here.20:15

Vieira, who could have done more to prevent Milan's second goal, is taken off and Bertolacci brought on in his place.20:16

It is time for the second cooling break of the contest. Milan are in complete control of things and look as though they could still add another goal or two to their tally if they move back through the gears. Sampdoria will just want full-time.21:09

Milan seem content with three goals. They have dropped off over the last five minutes, not helped by the raft of substitutions.21:12

PENALTY TO SAMPDORIA! Kjaer catches Bertolacci inside the box and, following a brief VAR check, the officials point to the penalty spot.21:13

DONNARUMMA SAVES THE PENALTY!! Maroni's spot-kick is at a nice height for Donnarumma, but credit to the Milan keeper for making the save. Leris is first to the loose ball but blazes over from 10 yards.21:14

Maroni's penalty was not quite in the bottom corner and that allowed Donnarumma to get to it.21:15

It has been another superb display from Ibrahimovic, who turns 39 in October! Paqueta is introduced for the final 10 minutes.21:15

Kessie is off and Biglia on in the final change of this one-sided match.21:16

There are questions over whether the penalty should have even been awarded in the first place, so many will feel justice has been done with that Donnarumma save.21:18

Sampdoria have been all over Milan for a while now but it is too little, too late. Gabbiadini is brought down by Biglia just outside the box and the substitute striker, having brushed himself down, fires the resulting free-kick into the wall.21:19

Milan have looked pretty flat since making mass changes to their side, which is perhaps not all that surprising. It is very much a case of job done for Pioli's men, though, with their momentum being carried right to the end of the campaign.21:21

Milan are now up to 58 per cent in terms of possession and have managed eight shots on target, three of those ending in the back of the net.21:22

Saelemaekers was caught in possession and Leris, who has been heavily involved since being introduced, made him pay.21:24

Sampdoria are the side asking all of the questions now as they go in search of a second goal, which really would make things interesting if it comes soon enough. The hosts sloppily give the ball away, however, and Castillejo is not too far wide with his effort.21:26

Four minutes have been added on at the end of the game at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.21:26

Bonaventura did most of the work and Leao took the ball off him 20 yards from goal. Credit to the Portuguese forward for finding the corner of the net.21:28

FULL-TIME: SAMPDORIA 1-4 MILAN21:28

Milan beat Sampdoria 4-1 to make it 12 games without defeat. Ibrahimovic headed the visitors into a fourth-minute lead and doubled his tally just before the hour mark, shortly after Calhanoglu had got on the scoresheet. Askildsen scored an impressive consolation late on, but there was still time for Leao to add a fourth for Milan in added time.21:31

Pioli's in-form side host Cagliari on the final day of the season, while Sampdoria - without a point in their last three matches - head to Brescia on the same day.21:32

That is all for today's live text coverage. Thanks for joining, goodbye!21:32