Genoa beaten by Lazio: 4-2; Samp down to B

Rodrigo Palacio scores the equalizer against Lazio: 1-1

As expected Genoa lost the match by 4-2. To Lazio the match was very important to reach Europa League and to keep the dream of Champions Laegue alive, while Genoa still was in seventh heaven because of the victory in the derby. After Lazio opened the score by our ex-Genoano Beppe Biava, it was Palacio who scored the equalizer in the rebound of a great shot of Boselli. With the 1-1 score both teams went in the dressingroom at halftime. After the break Lazio scored 3 times in 14 minutes. Floro Flores scored the last goal of the match by touching a shot of Mimmo Criscito: 4-2.

One day later on Sunday 15th May 2011 our nephews of Sampdoria relegated to Serie B. Palermo did beat the bluecerchiati in Luigi Ferraris by 1-2, while their concurrent Lecce did win their derby in Bari by 0-2. After 8 years in Serie A the dream is over. 

Sampdoria down to Serie B: 15-05-2011

Genoa doesn’t help Samp; again victory, 2-1

Mauro Boselli scores in the 96th minute the winning goal in the derby: 2-1

Again a victory in the derby, the 5th in the last 6 editions! The goals of Genoa were scored by Floro Flores in the last minute of the first half and his substitute Mauro Boselli in the last second of the 2nd half. Sampdoria is now close to relegation to Serie B which seems the only escape of many more defeats in the derby the next years. 

[youtube –ofRoaU_pI]  

A derby always starts immediately after the last match before the 2 Genovese clubs play against each other. This time Sampdoria was most of all in the spotlights because the club is in big danger to relegate to Serie B. Because of this the team already went on Thursday for a trainingscamp to Novi Ligure to prepare in silence. After protest of the supporters they got the opportunity to visit the team on Saturday in Novi Ligure. When the Samp-supporters arrived in the mountains around 50 kilometers of Genova they found a red and blue painted trainingsfield with many times “Serie B” on the walls around the complex. Even worse to Sampdoria is the fact that the derby for the first time was not sold out because Samp sold only 8.700 of their 11.000 tickets. With Genoa this never happened in the history and we also had many years at the bottom of standings, even in the years in Serie B.

In the first half Genoa played a little better then Sampdoria and the reward arived in the last minute: a corner of Milanetto was headed by our Genoano of the year Rodrigo Palacio towards Antonio Floro Flores who beat Sampdoria-goalkeeper Da Costa.

Floro Flores scores the first goal in the derby

Floro Flores celebrates his first goal in his first derby

In the second half Genoa played worse and gave Sampdoria the chance to come back in the match. After Eduardo coulden’t get control of a shot of palombo it was Pozzi who scored the equalizer: 1-1. It looked like the match would end with this draw, which was very disappointing to the Genoa-fans, but after 96 minutes and 13 seconds it was Mauro Boselli who scored the winning goal, just 17 seconds before the end. Referee Tagliavento immediately ended the match, there wasn’t even time to do the kick-off. Genoa now did win 5 of the 6 last derby’s, which was impossible to think about a few years ago.  

Mauro Boselli celebrates his goal, while the defender of Sampdoria is beaten on the ground

Napoli – Genoa 1-0, 100% sure remaining in A

The best player of Genoa against Napoli: goalkeeper Eduardo

Just before the end of the match Marek Hamsik brought Napoli a 1-0 victory against our team that played with 3 Primavera-players (Polenta, Jelenic and Destro). A draw would be the most honest result, but our friends of Napoli needed a victory and after the defeat of Lecce yesterday in Verona we are sure of remaining in Serie A next year. Next Sunday at 20.45 hours Genoa plays the homederby against Sampdoria, that struggles against relegation to Serie B. Genoa still is 10th in the standings.

[youtube jzB2Ova_Nt8] 

Saturday friendly match in A: Napoli-Genoa

Beercompany Moretti started a campaing with both Genoa and Napoli players and fans

Saturdayevening at 20.45 hours number 3 and 10 Napoli and Genoa play against each other in Stadio San Paolo. A lot of Genoa-fans travel 714 kilometers to the South to support our team that misses Dainelli, Milanetto and Palacio who all three got a yellow card against Lecce so they surely can play the derby next week. Genoa has 2 born Napolitans: Criscito and Floro Flores, Napoli has 2 ex-Genoani: Lavezzi and Mascara.

napoligenoa.png  

Genoa beats Lecce by 4-2 and is now 10th

Genoa players celebrate another goal against Lecce

Genoa has beaten Lecce by 4-2 with 2 goals of both Floro Flores and Rodrigo Palacio. Genoa is now 10th in the standings and 99% sure of being in Serie A also next season. After only 3 minutes Davide di Michele opened the score, but the joy of Lecce lasted only 7 minutes when Antonio Floro Flores scored the equalizer. Again Di Michele gave Lecce a new advantage, but just before halftime Rodrigo Palacio scored the equalizer: 2-2 at halftime. In the second half Palacio (with a header!) and Floro Flores both scored their second goal and gave us a 4-2 victory and a position on the left side of the standings. 

[youtube VLu6aMWC3YU]

Ballardini selects 19 players against Lecce

The line-up against Parma last Sunday

Today at 15.00 hours Genoa plays the 34th match of this season. Another victory can bring us at the left side of the standings and probably gives us the mathematical sureness of being in Serie A also next season. Mr. Ballardini misses Marco Rossi, Miguel Veloso and Bosko Jankovic in the team that did win the first match in Lecce by 3-1. The 19 players that have to bring us a happy easter:

GOALKEEPERS: 1 Eduardo, 88 Perin, 73 Scarpi.

DEFENDERS: 23 Antonelli, 4 Criscito, Dainelli, 13 Kaladze, 24 Moretti.

MIDFIELDERS: 29 Jelenic, 5 Konko, 33 Kucka, 20 Mesto, 77 Milanetto, 18 Rafinha.

STRIKERS: 9 Boselli, 22 Destro, 83 Floro Flores, 8 Palacio, 43 Paloschi  

Genoa beats Brescia by 3-0; Sampdoria at -10

Genoa beats Brescia by 3-0

The victory arrived and Genoa is now 10 points ahead of the relegation-zone. Number 18 Sampdoria (!) has 32 points and has only 5 matches to try to stay in Serie A. The goals of Genoa today were scored by Rafinha and Antonelli, while Berardi scored in his own goal. Genoa is now 11th in the standings and has to climb at last 1 position to reach the misson of this season: ending inbetween the first 10 teams in the standings.

[youtube iiQq9L4IP28]

Wanted: victory against Brescia; Kucka=back

new against old: Kucka defends Palladino

After 2 defeats against Cagliari (0-1, Acquafresca) and Juventus (3-2, winning goal by Luca Toni) that both were lost by a goal of a recent ex-player the chance to reach Europa League is over. The mission of this season, ending at the left side of the standings, still is reasonable. On the other hand Genoa wants to be sure to stay in Serie A for next season as soon as possible. For both reason we need to win against Brescia today. Most of the injuries are over, so this is the right time to book a new victory in this colorless season. Mr. Ballardini can use the following 19 players today:

GOALKEEPERS: Eduardo, Perin, Scarpi

DEFENDERS: Chico, Dainelli, Kaladze, Mesto, Moretti

MIDFIELDERS: Antonelli, Criscito, Konko, Kucka, Milanetto, Rafinha, Rossi

STRIKERS: Boselli, Floro Flores, Palacio, Paloschi

4th United in the name of Genoa in Holland

Naarden from the air

After 3 editions in Genova the 4th United in the name of Genoa is Saturday 21st May in Naarden, Holland. Besides some Dutch teams also at least 1 Italian team is expected in Holland. Both Easyjet (Malpensa-Amsterdam) and Transavia (Pisa-Amsterdam) are ready to bring the real Griffins to the land of total-football. In case our heroes in the Serie A at the last moment still have the chance to reach Europa League there is also the possibility to fly back with Easyjet on Sundaymorning and be back on time in Marassi to see Genoa beating Cesena. But first the guys of the Bel Paese have to try to win back the trophy which is since last October in the arms of Genoa Club Amsterdam. A presto !

 Genoa Club Amsterdam celebrates with the trophy on the stairs of Nouvelle Vague