Sampdoria's win means they still haven't lost a game since January, while Parma haven't won since then. Samp stay tenth but jump three points ahead of the crociati in the table, while Roberto Donadoni's side are unfortunately leapfrogged by Emilian rivals Bologna, falling to 12th.
Samp will probably feel fortunate to come away with the points, given how close the game was throughout. A cagey affair, there were only two clear cut chances in the entire first half. The opening one fell to Jonathan Biabiany when he was set through on goal by a lovely ball from Marco Marchionni, only to chip the ball right over the crossbar.
The blucerchiati's best chance fell to Eder just before the break, when Andrea Poli's cross from the right bounced straight to the Brazilian striker lurking free just inside the area. He didn't quite catch the shot right, and it fizzed into the arms of Antonio Mirante.
Just a couple of minutes after the restart Samp defender Andrea Costa had a great opportunity after some unimpressive corner defending from the visitors, though like his teammate Eder, Costa didn't get a clean contact on the ball from point-blank range, and it was hoofed away by Alessandro Lucarelli.
The game's only goal came just short of the hour, after some unfortunate goalkeeping from the usually-excellent Mirante. He came to try to claim a Marcelo Estigarribia free-kick, but, overestimating the length of his own arms, Mauro Icardi beat him to the ball, heading over the goalkeeper and into the empty net.
Parma tried to hit back but just couldn't break through the Sampdoria defensive lines. Amauri had their best chance to get back into the game when he latched onto a low Nicola Sansone cross to the near post, though he could only hit he post from close range.
Mirante kept the game alive with a good save on Icardi with just over ten minutes left, but, unfortunately, it was all in vain.
Sampdoria (3-5-2): Sergio Romero; Andrea Costa, Angelo Palombo, Daniele Gastaldello; Marcelo Estigarribia, Andrea Poli, Pedro Obiang, Nenad Krstičić, Lorenzo De Silvestri; Mauro Icardi, Eder (Gianluca Sansone 71)
Parma (3-5-2): Antonio Mirante; Alessandro Lucarelli, Andrea Coda (Djamel Mesbah 46), Yohan Benalouane; Massimo Gobbi (Amauri 65), Marco Parolo (Rodney Strasser 79), Jaime Valdés, Marco Marchionni, Aleandro Rosi; Nicola Sansone; Jonathan Biabiany
Goals: Icardi 58 (S)