The result lifted the Genoa-based side to seventh in the table with 28 points from 19 matches, 21 behind leaders Juventus who play Reggina on Sunday.

Lecce remained second from bottom in 19th spot.

Sampdoria took the lead in the 22nd minute when Italy midfielder Aimo Diana headed in a corner.

Lecce midfielder Cristian Ledesma went close to equalising with a long-range effort before Gennaro Del Vecchio put through his own net on the stroke of halftime.

Fabio Bazzani added the third goal two minutes after the restart when he ran on to a defence-splitting pass by strike partner Corrado Colombo before finishing coolly.

In another Serie A match, the Sicilian derby between midtable sides Messina and Palermo ended in a dull 0-0 draw.

Messina failed to get a single shot on goal during the first half, while Palermo had a Cristian Zaccardo goal overruled for offside.

The match only came alive in the last 15 minutes, when a close-range effort by Palermo midfielder Massimo Bonanni was deflected behind by a defender and Messina's Arturo Di Napoli fired over the bar from directly in front of goal.