Hertha held to Sampdoria stalemate

UC Sampdoria and Hertha BSC Berlin set up the prospect of an enthralling Matchday 5 in Group C after playing out a goalless draw in Genoa, to leave four teams with a chance of booking a place in the UEFA Cup knockout stages.

Congested group
The sides went into the encounter at the Luigi Ferraris locked together with RC Lens on four points and FC Steaua Bucuresti still within reach at the summit in a congested section. The teams remained inseparable after 90 minutes in Italy, although either side could have edged a win as Hertha enjoyed the lion's share of possession, while the Blucherchiati remained a constant threat on the counterattack.

Marx miss
The Bundesliga outfit enjoyed the best of the opening stages and quickly set the tone as they dominated possession, with Marcelinho and Yıldıray Baştürk orchestrating things from midfield. The pair created several opportunities for the visitors, the best of which fell to another midfielder, Thorben Marx, on ten minutes but the 24-year-old drove his shot straight at goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi.

Long-ball game
Sampdoria offered little attacking verve of their own, and constantly reverted to pumping long balls into the attacking third for Francesco Flachi to chase. But the tactic began to show promise as the half wore on, as the striker held the ball up before laying it off to the on-rushing Samuele Dalla Bona, who could not find the target from the edge of the box.

Baştürk threat
Baştürk was more accurate on the cusp of half-time, but Castellazzi judged the blustery conditions perfectly to execute the save. The Turkish midfield player then had the best opportunity of the game midway through the second half, but fired into the side-netting. By that time Sampdoria were beginning to look a threat at the other end, with Flachi and Aimo Diana both driving just over as the game petered out for a draw to leave all to play for on 15 December.