Genoa Club Amsterdam

Last season Genoa sold 21.675 seasontickets, we all thought because of the return after 12 years in Serie A. The number of single tickets was 3070 every match, so their was an average of 24.745 supporters in Luigi Ferraris every homematch. This summer because of the good results last season (10th place) and the arrival of Milito at the end, the club sold 22.856 seasontickets. Only 269 less then in the Uefa-cup season 1991-1992 when 23.125 Genoani bought a seasonticket, the all times record.

Besides the good news, unfortunately there is also bad news. Our playmaker Omar Milanetto who left the field with an injury after only 15 minutes last Sunday against Siena is not able to play the next 40 days. ‘Hannibal’ hopes to return in the team just before the derby against Sampdoria next 7th December.

Also our 4th homematch this season ended in a victory. The first one ever against Siena, because till today we only draw and lost twice against the Toscany team. The goal was scored by Giuseppe Biava who headed a corner in the 20th minute behind goalkeeper Curci. A few minutes before Thiago Motta made his debut by substituting injured Omar Milanetto. In the second half especially Diego Milito had some chances to double the score, but on the other side Rubinho saved a great shot of Galloppa. Genoa is now 9th in the standings with 12 points in 7 matches, next week we play in Giuseppe Meazza against number 1 Inter, that beat A.S. Roma tonight by 0-4 in Stadio Olimpico.

In the history Genoa played 4 times at home against Siena and our Rossobluboys never won. The first 2 matches ended in a draw: 1-1 and the last 2 matches Siena did win by 1-3 in Marassi. Time for a change ! With Siena play 5 ex-Genoani: Manuel Coppola (Genoa Club Amsterdam Genoano of the year 2005-2006), Paul Codrea (with Genoa in the years 2001-2003), Daniele Portanova (1998-1999), Abdelkader Ghezzal (bought and sold by Genoa this summer) and one of the biggest talents in the world: Fernando Forestieri who is rent to Siena, but 100% owned by our president Mr. Preziosi.

Mr. Gasperini selected the following 18 players:

Goalkeepers: 83 Rubinho, 73 Scarpi. 

Defenders: 25 Biava, 26 Bocchetti, 4 Criscito, 27 D’Alessandro, 13 Ferrari. 

Midfielders: 29 Brivio, 28 Juric, 20 Mesto, 77 Milanetto, 8 Roman, 88 Thiago Motta.

Forward: 18 Gasbarroni, 17 Jankovic, 22 Milito, 10 Palladino, 14 Sculli.

Genoa misses: Sokratis + Rossi (both banned after red card against Napoli), Modesto, Olivera, Paro + Potenza (injured) and Anthony Vanden Borre (disciplinary punished).

Thursdaymorning early at 2.15 hours the match Chili-Argentina started in Santiago di Chili with Diego Milito in the line-up of Argentina. Because Argentina was 1-0 down coach Basile substituted Diego after 45 minutes, but it did not help him: Argentina lost for the first time in 36 years against Chili and Basile was fired yesterday. After the match Diego flew in 2 hours back with the team to Buenos Aires, from Buenos Aires 13,5 hours together with Inter-players Cambiasso and Zanetti towards Madrid and in 2,5 hours from the Spanish Capital to Genova. Very tired because of the long trip and the time-difference Diego yesterday was present at the Pegli-trainingsfield. Today he has to do a test to see if he is healthy enough to play tomorrow against Siena. The newspapers expect that our topscorer starts on the banch and Raffaele Palladino starts in the line-up.

Wednesdaynight Anthony Vanden Borre played a great match against European-champions Spain, that Belgium lost in the 90th minute just after Vanden Borre was changed. On the supporterssites Genoa-supporters talked Thursday about the great match of Anthony and spoke about a possible line-up against Siena. Now the discussion is over because Anthony did not return on time in Genova and Mr. Gasperini probably punish the Belgium international and doesn’t put him in the team against Siena.

The best player in the field against A.C. Milan and the man who let Sculli easily score in the 3rd minute against A.S. Roma: Andrea Gasbarroni is healthy again. This afternoon the offensive midfieldplayer played in the second half in the friendly match against Serie-D team Lavagnese. Also Matteo Ferrari, Omar Milanetto and Thiago Motta are back after their injury and are able to play against Siena next Sunday. Genoa beat Lavagnese on the Pegli trainingfield by 9-2 with 4 goals of Palladino, Sculli (2), while Thiago Motta and the youngsters Scotto and El Shaarawy all scored once. Potenza, Paro, Olivera and Modesto did not play this afternoon and also don’t have a chance to be ready before Sunday, while Sokratis and Rossi are banned because of their red card against Napoli.

Yesterdag Genoa played a friendly match in Sestri Levante a nice city at the sea-side between Genova and Cinque Terre. This summer Genoa trained the first 3 days of the season on the field of Sestri Levante Football Club while the Pegli trainingsfield not was ready yet. To thank Sestri Levante a team of Genoa played a friendly match yesterday against the hometeam. Because of  international matches with their countries and injuries Genoa missed almost all line-up players, but with Rossi, Juric, Sculli, Olivera and Palladino a few stars showed up to enjoy the 1000 present fans. Genoa scored 5 times: Sculli (2), and Brivio in the first half, Olivera and youngster Ben Djemia after the break.  

Matteo Paro was almost recovered of his injury since the match Genoa-Napoli at the 27th February 2008. Almost because just before he should play again his first match the left-knee reacted badly. Yesterday our friendly midfieldplayer was again operated on the same knee and it takes around 6 months before he can play again. Good luck Matteo! 

After the matches in Uefa-cup were known the Italian Football Association finally could publish the playdates of the Serie A-matches for the first half of the season. Genoa plays all the matches on Sunday-afternoon at 15.00 hours except:

Wednesday 29th October 20.30 hours: Genoa-Cagliari

Thursday 13th November 20.30 hours: Juventus-Genoa

Sunday 7th December 20.30 hours: Sampdoria-Genoa

Saturday 10th January 18.00 hours: Genoa-Torino