OJ rattles San Siro crossbar as he assists in Sampdoria’s goal against Inter Milan

Claudio Ranieri’s side made their long-awaited return to competitive action on Sunday evening, following the break in the season due to the coronavirus pandemic

Exactly two years to the day since Gambia international Omar Colley joined Sampdoria, on sunday he nearly scored his first goal for the Italian club with a free thumping, buccaneering header from a corner which came off the crossbar....the rebound, however, found the back of the net thanks to team mate Morten Thorsby as Inter Milan restarted their Serie A campaign by beating Sampdoria 2-1 at the San Siro, cutting their deficit to leaders Juventus to six points.

Christian Eriksen found the net just seconds into the game, but the goal was ruled out as Antonio Candreva had been flagged offside in the build up.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a great team goal as Lukaku burst into the box after a give-and-go with Eriksen, and the Belgian striker curled the ball left-footed into the net.

Inter Milan doubled their lead in the 32nd minute, after Lukaku's smart pass found Candreva, and the Italian international squared for an unmarked Lautaro to tap in.

Sampdoria's consolation goal occurred seven minutes into the second half, as Morten Thorsby's follow-up beat Samir Handanovic after Omar Colley's header had rattled the crossbar.

After the game, Claudio Ranieri admitted that the performance against Inter was lacking, especially at the start of Sunday’s encounter.

“We were timid, fearful,” he said. That is how we started out: we couldn’t get out and when we did, we made mistakes. But in the second half we showed character. I can accept the defeat and our second-half display, but not the first half.”

Samp missed an opportunity to create daylight between themselves and the relegation zone but will get another chance on Wednesday at Roma. “We started from last place, so it’s not that we’re worried – we know where we started and we have to fight to the end,” Ranieri says. “It doesn’t matter who we play against, every game is an opportunity.”

In the day's early fixture, Atalanta who have Gambian midfielder Ebrima Colley in their books continued their impressive form by easing past Sassuolo 4-1, with Duvan Zapata scoring twice.

On Monday Musa Barrow’s Bologna entertain Champions Juventus fresh from their cup defeat against Napoli last week.