Rome - Sampdoria breezed past struggling 10-man guest side Bologna Saturday, securing a 4-1 win that allowed them to leapfrog Inter Milan atop the Italian Serie A ahead of a late game the champions are to play against Catania.

Giampaolo Pazzini, Reto Ziegler and Daniele Mannini - twice - were on target for the Genoa side, which had notched only two points from the last two games after a 1-0 win over Inter.

Samp now have 20 points from nine games. But Inter can regain a two-point lead if they beat lowly visitors Catania.

The game at Genoa's Luigi Ferraris was secured for Samp already in the first half as Pazzini, on eight minutes, scored his sixth goal with a deft deflection that cut defender Daniele Portanova off a low feed from Antonio Cassano.

Pazzini wore a carbon-fibre mask as he recovers from a nose fracture suffered last weekend in a clash with Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, but he seemed not to be hampered at all.

On 17 minutes, the striker controlled a high ball with his chest and promptly fed Mannini for a smashing volley by the close post that left no chance for goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

Samp's third goal on 26 minutes brought the signature of Swiss man Ziegler, whose low winning shot from the distance was followed by the dismissal of the guests' flagbearer, Marco Di Vaio.

The striker received a second booking for insulting the referee, making the remainder of the game a nightmare for Bologna's new coach Franco Colomba.

Uruguay's Marcelo Zalayeta had a break blocked by Samp's defence before the in form Cassano wreaked havoc on the left flank and squared a cross for Mannini's easy header.

Before the break, Cassano sought a goal with a drive from outside the area, but found Viviano ready for a spectacular deflection.

In the second half, Samp controlled the game without major problems, but a defence blunder allowed the guests a consolation goal scored on 62 minutes by the just-fielded Argentine Pablo Osvaldo. (dpa)