Sampdoria edged an unlikely 3-2 classic as Giampaolo Pazzini provided the goal touch they have been missing with a hat-trick to end Lecce's unbeaten start to the season at Stadio Via del Mare.

Pazzini fired Samp into a two-goal lead by the 39th minute but I Giallorossi came storming back in the second period with goals from David Di Michele and Souleymane Diamoutene.

It seemed set to end all square but the visitors left with all three points thanks to Pazzini's decider in the 88th minute.

The Genoa side came into the match with just one defeat in nine Serie A matches but with only one win in five, and had failed to score in any of their last four matches in all competitions.

However, Pazzini quickly buried that unwanted statistic as he capitalised on hesitancy from Lecce defender Fabiano and goalkeeper Antonio Rosati to score in the eighth minute.

The hosts responded with a shot over the top from Ernesto Chevanton and a drive from Andrea Bertolacci midway through the half which drew a smart save from Samp goalkeeper Gianluca Curci.

Lecce's plight then worsened when Chevanton was sent off and seconds later Pazzini had made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Carlos Grossmuller brought down Guido Marilungo in the box.

Pazzini had chances to complete his hat-trick either side of half-time but failed to hit the target on either occasion and Gianni Munari's fine break and cross for Lecce in the 56th minute went unrewarded as no home forward could get on the end of it.

Di Michele's effort after an hour was well kept out by Curci, but the former West Ham United man did halve the deficit with 18 minutes left as he beat Sampdoria defender Daniele Gastaldello before applying a smart finish.

Lecce's proud unbeaten record looked set to remain intact when Fabiano's cross was headed home from close range by Malian substitute Diamoutene, but Samp snatched a winner two minutes from time when Pazzini tapped in Daniele Mannini's low cross from the right.