Author: Hans

In 1935 Genoa did win for the first and the last time in Palermo, till yesterday. After Amauri scored the first goal from the penaltyspot (incredible decision of referee Tagliavento because Santos played the ball) Genoa scored three times: Figueroa in the first half and Milanetto and Konko after the tea. In the last second of the match Amauri scored his second goal, immediately after referee Tagliavento finished the match. A great victory of Genoa that now is on the 8th position in the standings with 39 points, 12 points above the relegation zone, so almost completely save to stay in Serie A.

Tomorrow Genoa plays in and against Palermo, with 1415 kilometers the most far way match of the season. Unless the distance and Easter over 100 Genoa-fans follow the team to the capital of Sicily. With Palermo plays ex-Genoano Giovanni Tedesco who played 77 matches and scored 10 goals in our red en blue shirt in the years 2004 till 2006. In January 2006 at the time Genoa played in Serie C-1 Giovanni asked Genoa if he could return to his city of birth: Palermo and Mr. Preziosi gave permission to our very friendly captain who also played many years with Perugia. 

Thursday-afternoon Mr. Gasperini and his staff went together with 21 players by airplane to Palermo. Comparing to the match against Inter last Wednesday Criscito (3 weeks out because of injury) and Wilson (not ready to play yet) stayed in Genova, substituted by Rubinho and Leon who scored twice in the homematch that ended in 3-3.

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A fantastic Genoa tonight got only 1 point against Italian Champions and leader in the standings Inter, while we deserved 3 points. Genoa had ball-possession of 67% against 33% and earned 10 corners against Inter only 4. The Gasperini-boys started very agressive with Figueroa and Sculli as forwards and as expected Borriello on the bench. The 27.624 spectators saw that the first counter of Inter in the 11th minute after a mistake of Santos in midfield immediately ended in a goal of Suazo after a cross of Ibrahimovic. 

Also after the goal it was only Genoa that played football, while Inter only defended which is their specialty. In the 40th minute Inter midfielder Pelè got his second yellow card after he kicked Juric, so Inter had to continue the game with 10 players.

In the second half Mr. Gasperini brought Borriello and Fabiano in the field, while defenders Santos and De Rosa had to leave the pitch. Also our 3rd and last defender Domenico Criscito left the field, but unfortunately not because of tactical reasons but with an injury that looked heavy. Genoa did everything to score the equalizer but a goal of Sculli was regulary annulated because of off-side. In the 85th minute we finally succeeded, a shot of Juric was blocked by goalkeeper Julio Cesar of Inter but Borriello volleyed the rebound fantastic in the goal. Genoa now has 36 points and is on the shared 10th position with Napoli and Palermo, the opponent of next Saturday on Sicily.

The trainers of Genoa (Gasperini) and Inter (Mancini) selected 41 players for tomorrow-nights topmatch in Serie A between the two teams that did win together 24 Italian championships. Over 27.000 people will be in the stadium, most of them hoping that Genoa can surprise Inter just like Napoli did 2 weeks ago. The rumours say that Lucho Figueroa plays in the team of Genoa because mr. Gasperini wants to give Borriello some rest. The 41 players – including Wilson for the first time – selected to play tomorrow:

GENOA 

Goalkeepers: Lanza, Scarpi.

Defenders: Criscito, De Rosa, Ghinassi, Konko, Lucarelli, Rossi, Santos.

Midfielders: Danilo, Fabiano, Juric, Masiero, Milanetto, Raggio Garibaldi, Vanden Borre.

Forwards: Di Vaio, Borriello, Figueroa, Sculli, Wilson.
 

INTER 

Goalkeepers:  Toldo, Julio Cesar, Orlandoni.

Defenders: Zanetti, Maxwell, Maicon, Burdisso, Rivas, Chivu.

Midfielders: Jimenez, Vieira, Cambiasso, Solari, Maniche, Pelè.

Forwards: Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Crespo, Suazo, Balotelli.

After the great victories against Udinese (5-3) and Napoli (2-0) Genoa lost twice against Cagliari (1-2) and Juventus (0-2), so now it is time to earn again some points. Of course the match in Florence against Fiorentina is not easy to win, but with the support of our 1600 fans we possibly can surprise the purple team that hopefully still is a litte tired of their match against Everton in Uefa-cup. Mr. Gasperini selected the following 20 players:

Goalkeepers: Lanza, Scarpi.

Defenders: Criscito, De Rosa, Ghinassi, Konko, Lucarelli, Santos.

Mifielders: Danilo, Fabiano, Juric, Masiero, Milanetto, Rossi, Vanden Borre.

Forwards: Borriello, Di Vaio, Figueroa, Leon, Sculli.

At the end all the 3 slightly injured players Borriello, Fabiano and Sculli are selected by Mr. Gasperini to go in Sheraton Hotel to prepare for tomorrownights topmatch against Juventus. The following 19 players try to put Juventus in a crisis:

Goalkeepers: Scarpi, Lanza

Defenders: Criscito, De Rosa, Ghinassi, Konko, Lucarelli

Midfielders: Danilo, Fabiano, Masiero, Milanetto, Raggio Garibaldi, Rossi, Vanden Borre

Forwards: Borriello, Di Vaio, Figueroa, Leon, Sculli