These are difficult times for Sampdoria.

The Genoese side, comfortably the biggest club in Serie B, are enduring a nightmare season.

They’ve gone through three managers and haven’t won a game since the end of October – a 12-match stretch in all competitions. In fact, the one-time Scudetto winners have only picked up seven points in the last two-and-a-half months.

It’s a run of form that does little to help their struggle to escape the bottom of the Italian second tier, let alone aid their aspirations of a return to Serie A.

In their last outing, the Blucerchiati were held to a 1-1 draw with Brescia at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti.

Samp took the lead through a marvellous strike from Massimo Coda, who cut inside off the right-hand side and planted the ball into the opposite corner with his weaker left foot, hitting the post en route to goal.

It was Coda’s sixth of the season and his first since the crushing 5-1 loss to Sassuolo in early December. 

However, the Rondinelle equalised early in the second half, when a cross from Massimo Bertagnoli wasn’t properly dealt with and the ball fell to Gabriele Moncini at the back post, who stabbed it home from close range. 

Only wasteful finishing and some decent saves from Simone Ghidotti kept the visitors in the game towards the end, with Brescia piling on the pressure in the final half an hour. Yet both sides had to be content with shared points.

However, the game has been overshadowed since due to racist chants from Brescia fans aimed at Samp midfielder Ebenezer Akinsankmiro. 

Akinsankmiro, on loan at the club from Inter Milan, then responded to the monkey chants by imitating one following Coda’s goal. 

The player was booked by the referee and then taken off by Leonardo Semplici to prevent the incident escalating further. 

In the aftermath of the game, Inter promptly sent out a statement in support of Akinsankmiro

“We’re all united against all forms of discrimination. We’re with you, Ebenezer,” said Inter’s statement.

Next up for struggling Samp is a home game against Cesena, who themselves could do with a win.

The Emilia-Romagna side are firmly in mid-table — presently 10th — but they haven’t won a game in over a month, following a run of four games without victory.

Their last outing was a 0-0 draw with Cittadella, and coach Michele Magnani will be hoping to get back to winning ways.

After a bright opening months of the campaign, the Cavallucci Marini have had more negatives than positives in November and December.

There has been a lack of goals from Cesena, only two in the last six games. But the club have tried to rectify this with the signing of Antonino La Gumina from, coincidentally, Sampdoria.

La Gumina has spent most of the season on the bench for Samp despite their struggles, and Magnani will hope the Italian will score the goals the club need if they’re to make a push for a play-off place.

“He’s a lad that will give us a hand in attack,” said club sporting director Fabio Artico of La Gumina. “He’s a striker who completes our attack and the characteristics of our other forwards.”

Cesena will be hoping La Gumina can put one over on his old club and secure all three points. 

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