All of Samp's goals came in a devastating opening period as Giampaolo Pazzini hit a double after Antonio Cassano had opened the scoring.

Samp had defender Daniele Gastaldello sent off for a second bookable offence on the hour mark, but Inter could not make their man advantage pay.

Inter's night would also be further soured with young striker Mario Balotelli taken from the pitch on a stretcher after leaping for a ball.

Samp, fresh from their 2-1 humbling of AC Milan in the league on the weekend, took just nine minutes to go ahead when Cassano was gifted the ball on the edge of the area by Nelson Rivas' error.

The Italy international was then able to run in on goal before lifting his shot over the onrushing goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.

Pazzini got the first of his double with 29 minutes on the clock, turning in a corner after the away defence had fluffed earlier chances to clear.

The former Fiorentina striker ensured Samp would take a healthy advantage into the second leg at the San Siro later this month when he added a third three minutes before the break.

Last night, Lazio came from behind to grab a 2-1 against Juventus in Rome.

Captain Tommaso Rocchi fired Lazio's winner 12 minutes from time after Goran Pandev had cancelled out Marco Marchionni's opener for the away side.