Sampdoria almost allowed a three-goal lead to slip before clinging on to beat rivals Genoa 3-2 in the Derby della Lanterna on Tuesday night.
Roberto Soriano scored twice, either side of a goal for Eder, to put visitors Samp 3-0 up four minutes into the second half of the Serie A clash.
But Leonardo Pavoletti netted after 69 minutes and again nine minutes from time to set up a tense conclusion, only for Samp to hold on for a 3-2 triumph.
The contest with delayed due to flares on the pitch, but Samp were not to be distracted and took the lead after 18 minutes when Soriano capitalised on a defensive lapse to score.
The visitors had a second before the interval when Eder pounced on a loose ball and finished clinically.
Eder had a header saved before Samp's third arrived when Antonio Cassano laid on a goal for Soriano.
What appeared to be a straightforward evening then became slightly more challenging when Pavoletti headed in a corner from Diego Laxalt.
Pavoletti had his second after 81 minutes, with another header, this time from a cross by Tomas Rincon.
But it was Samp who came closest to scoring in the final stages as Edgar Barreto hit the bar on the counter attack.