Gianluca Caprari scored an eye-catching equaliser as Sampdoria fought back for a 1-1 home draw against Fiorentina in Serie A.

Fiorentina were on course to go second in the Italian top flight when Giovanni Simeone headed them ahead, but Caprari levelled in the second half.

The visitors took a 13th-minute lead when left-back Cristiano Biraghi swung over a cross from midway through the Sampdoria half, picking out the charging Simeone.

The striker’s run from the edge of the penalty area to the far post saw him beat the home defence to the ball and he planted a header low and out of the reach of goalkeeper Emil Audero.

Fiorentina pushed to double their lead and Audero tipped a powerful strike from Biraghi over the crossbar. Croatian forward Marko Pjaca peppered the Sampdoria goal before the break as Audero impressed.

Sampdoria’s refusal to buckle was rewarded when they levelled on the hour, Caprari taking down a pass from the right flank, stepping inside and offloading a curling 22-yard strike inside the right corner.

Gaston Ramirez fired a free-kick over the bar after coming off the Sampdoria bench, before the visitors went close when Audero gathered Nikola Milenkovic’s header.

Fiorentina’s Kevin Mirallas, on loan from Everton, threatened in the closing stages, and Audero had to make another save from Milenkovic as the game finished all square.