GENOVA (Interstat) — Sampdoria scored twice after halftime and overcame a red card to beat Catanzaro 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in a Serie B match at Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris.

Catanzaro had taken the lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Stefan Gartenmann scored to put the visitors ahead, sending Catanzaro into the break with a one-goal advantage. The goal came after a tense opening stretch that included two yellow cards in the 17th minute, one for Sampdoria’s Liam Henderson and one for Catanzaro’s Pietro Iemmello. Stefan Gartenmann was also booked in the 38th minute.

Sampdoria answered in the 56th minute when Lorenzo Insigne scored to level the match. The home side then lost Oliver Abildgaard to a red card in the 64th minute, forcing Sampdoria to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. The dismissal raised the pressure on the home side, but Sampdoria continued to push forward.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sampdoria found the winner in the 85th minute. Tjaš Begić scored to put the home team ahead, and Sampdoria protected the lead through the closing stages. Catanzaro could not find a second goal after Begić’s strike.

The match grew physical and produced a series of bookings. Philippe Koffi of Catanzaro was shown a yellow card in the 66th minute, and Catanzaro’s Samuel Giovane was booked in the 75th. In stoppage time, Sampdoria’s Kevin Mbabu was cautioned in the 90th-plus-5th minute, and Catanzaro’s Matias Antonini Lui was booked in the 90th-plus-6th minute.

The result left Catanzaro with one win and four losses in Serie B this season. Across all competitions, Catanzaro is now 1-4-1. Sampdoria improved to 1-3-1 in Serie B and 1-4-1 across all competitions. For Sampdoria, the victory was its first in Serie B this season. Catanzaro’s lone league win came earlier in the campaign.

The match was part of the Italian Serie B schedule. The win gave Sampdoria its first league victory of the season, while Catanzaro remained on one league win. Catanzaro had entered with momentum from its win over Carrarese, while Sampdoria had been seeking a turnaround after a difficult start.

Catanzaro entered the match after a 1-0 home win against Carrarese on Sept. 12. Before that, Catanzaro lost 2-0 at Südtirol on Sept. 5, fell 2-1 at Pisa on Aug. 30, lost 3-2 at LR Vicenza on Aug. 21, and drew 2-2 at home against Südtirol on Aug. 15.

Sampdoria had lost 2-0 at Mantova on Sept. 13. Earlier, Sampdoria lost 3-1 at Palermo on Sept. 7, fell 2-1 at home to Juve Stabia on Aug. 29, drew 1-1 at Cesena on Aug. 23, and lost 2-0 at Cremonese on Aug. 17.

Sampdoria is scheduled to return to Serie B play at Avellino on Oct. 9. The club is also listed to play at Avellino on Oct. 10, host Arezzo on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, visit Südtirol on Oct. 24, travel to Ascoli on Oct. 27, host Virtus Entella on Oct. 31, visit Carrarese on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, and host Benevento on Nov. 21. Catanzaro is set to host Mantova on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11. Catanzaro also is scheduled to visit Hellas U20 on Oct. 16, play at Hellas on Oct. 17, host Ascoli on Oct. 24, visit Benevento on Oct. 27, host Padova on Oct. 31, visit Cesena on Nov. 7, host Palermo on Nov. 21, and visit Juve Stabia on Nov. 24.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Sampdoria 1, Catanzaro 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Sampdoria with a 64.9 percent probability to win.