Author: Hans

This afternoon Genoa did win the important match against Chievo Verona by 1-0. Our captain Marco Rossi scored the only goal in the 63rd minute. Genoa is now on the shared 7th position in the standings with Juventus, our opponent of next week.

Because Biava is sold to Lazio and Criscito was suspended because of his 4th yellow card last week Mr. Gasperini had to change the team. Our coach substituted Biava by Sokratis in defense and put Mesto on the midfield-position of Sokratis last week. Ivan Juric substituted Criscito on the left in midfield, Acquafresca played in stead of Suazo as central-forward and Sculli was on the wingposition of Mesto last week in Naples. Genoa started the match very good and Acquafresca almost scored, but a defender of Chievo ruined the joy of Robert’s first goal with Genoa to kick the ball out of the goal after keeper Sorrentino was beaten. On the other side also our goalkeeper Marco Amelia had 2 perfect saves to keep his clean sheet since Genoa-Bari. Halftime: 0-0.

In the second half Genoa played much more agressive and just after Juric was changed by youngster Fatic our captain Marco Rossi scored with a perfect shot: 1-0. Unless the fact Mr. Gasperini substituted striker Palacio with defender Bocchetti our red and blue team stayed the most offensive team in the field. Omar Milanetto was close to the deciding 2-0, but his shot ended on the crossbar. After 95 minutes referee Ciampi finally whistled 3 times: 1-0, game over !  

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As expected it wasn’t an easy match in San Paolo stadium of Napoli that was filled with 60.000 fans, from which 1.000 with a red and blue hart. As usual in matches between Napoli and Genoa the atmosphere was very friendly between the fans.

Unless the fact the suspension of Bocchetti was over, Genoa started the match with the same 3 experienced defenders as last week: Biava, Dainelli and Moretti. Ivan Juric had some little problems just before the match, so he was substituted by Sokratis. It was unusual to see that not our Gasperini-boys but the opponent Napoli was the most offensive team in the field. Genoa was saved by the post when Dainelli almost scored in his own goal and just before halftime by the crossbar (shot of Cannavaro). The only remarkeble goal-attempt of Genoa in the first half was a shot of Criscito that was saved by Napoli’s goalkeeper De Sanctis. Halftime: 0-0.

In the 2nd half Napoli became stronger and stronger, just as the rain, but our defense played very good. At the time the Napoli strikers finally broke through our defense our goalkeeper Amelia reacted fantastic. In the 56th minute our new striker since friday: Robert Acquafresca made his debut in our red and blue shirt, but also he could not change the score: 0-0.

Yesterday 2 Argentinian goals of Palacio and Crespo gave Genoa a 2-0 victory against Atalanta. Our red and blue boys are now on the 8th postion in the standings with 31 points in 21 matches, 6 points less then last year after 21 games.

Genoa started the match with the experienced defenders: Biava, Dainelli and Moretti. Unless the suspension of Bocchetti we did not take a goal, so the 3 “oldies” did their jobs well, unless the fact all 3 got a yellow card of referee Giannoccaro. After 18 minutes our returned wingstriker Rodrigo Palacio scored the openinggoal after a fantastic assist of Zapater: 1-0. Also after the goal Genoa was the best team in the field, which was completely clear when Crespo headed the 2nd goal behind goalkeeper Coppola in the 42nd minute. With 2-0 the halftime whistle arrived.

In the 2nd half the Gasperini-boys let Atalanta play in midfield, but Genoa always controlled the match. The referee also saved Atalanta serveral times to close an eye at the moment one of the Lombardian players with a yellow card made another big foul. In the last minutes Crespo was substituted by Suazo who created himself 3 big chances to score his first goal in Luigi Ferraris, but Coppola (twice) and the post stopped him. Next Saturdaynight Genoa plays in Naples against the reborn hometeam.  

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Unless the fact that our goalkeeper Marco Amelia could play cards because he had almost nothing to do tonight we only draw against Bari: 1-1. Our goal was scored by Omar Milanetto in the 52 minute.

The match started completely wrong. After the 3-0 defeat in Rome, Genoa needed some trust but after only 5 minutes Bari scored a very dubious goal because of off-side and a handball of Barreto. Now after the match we can say that this was the only time Bari was close to our goal, but at that moment it was a little shock to all Genoani. After Milanetto first missed a big chance eye to eye with goalkeeper Gillet, in the 52nd minute Genoa got a free-kick just outside the penalty-area. Omar “Hannibal” Milanetto tried to shoot the ball over the wall in the near corner, but Almiron touched the ball and it went in the far corner: 1-1. Several times Genoa was close to the second goal and Juric hit the post with another free-kick, but despite the fact the cornerscore was 12-0 it lasted 1-1. Genoa is now 11th in the standings with 28 points in 20 matches.

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