Palermo 3-1 Sampdoria result, stats and report

Sampdoria ended a four-match losing streak in Serie B with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Catanzaro, with Lorenzo Insigne and substitute Tjas Begic providing the goals after Stefan Gartenmann's own goal gave the home side a half-time lead.

Calcio Padova produced a remarkable away victory at Palermo, with Dominic Vavassori scoring twice to overturn an early deficit and hand the home side a first defeat in five Serie B matches.

Walid Cheddira gave Avellino the lead on the hour mark but Dennis Johnsen equalised within three minutes for Palermo, leaving the hosts to rue three big chances missed in a frustrating 1-1 draw.

Mantova made it count when it mattered, finishing the sharper of two evenly matched sides to claim a 2-0 Serie B win over Sampdoria, whose profligacy in front of goal proved fatal.

Palermo won 2-1 against Sampdoria despite being outpossessed and outshot, with early goals from Gabriel Strefezza and Joel Pohjanpalo proving enough to hold off a Sampdoria side that created plenty but converted little.

Sampdoria have not won in five Serie B matches and have conceded nine goals in the process. Arezzo arrive at the Ferraris having shipped nine goals of their own on their travels, making this a fixture full of alarming questions for both camps.

Two of Serie B's form sides collide on Saturday as Mantova host Palermo, with both teams carrying serious momentum into a fixture that could have real implications at the top of the division.

Palermo arrive at Empoli on Saturday full of confidence after four straight Serie B wins, but the hosts have quietly tightened up and will not roll over. This one matters.