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Again beaten by ex-player: Palermo wins 2-1
Again Genoa lost at Sicily and again the deciding goal was made by an ex-player, this time Cesare Bovo who returned to Palermo this summer after he was hired to Genoa last season. To be honoust: Palermo deserved the victory, but with a ball on the crossbar of Milito (who also scored the goal of Genoa in the 89th minute) and a failed big opportunity of Olivera in extra-time we could draw.
As expected Mr. Gasperini started with Raffaele Palladino in the line-up, but he did not play as good as Gasbarroni last week. But Raffaele surely was not the only one who could not repeat the level of the match against Milan. While Palermo was the best team in the field it was Diego Milito who hit the crossbar with a fantastic shot in the 33rd minute. Six minutes later Cavani scored the opening-goal: 1-0. In the 59th minute ex-player Cesare Bovo doubled the score with a great shot of 30 meters. Just before the end of the regular playtime Milito scored the 1-2 after a cross of Modesto. While Genoa did not really deserve it, in the extra-time Ruben Olivera missed a great chance to score the equalizer.
Raffaele Palladino: this is your moment
The man of the match last Sunday aginst Milan, Andrea Gasbarroni, is not healthy enough to play 3 matches in the next 7 days (tomorrow Palermo-Genoa, Wednesday Genoa-Roma and next Saturday Fiorentina-Genoa), so probably tomorrow Raffaele Palladino makes his debut in the line-up. The 24 years old striker already played some minutes against Catania and Milan but both matches Gasbarroni started in the line-up. The rest of the team, including Juric, is in good condition.
Yesterday Genoa sold seasonticket number 22.500, so the all time record of 23.125 in the Uefa-Cup season 1991-1992 is nearby. Since the arrival of Diego Milito 19 days ago Genoa sold over 3.000 seasontickets which means over 150 every day.
Not Edgar Davids, but Thiago Motta arrived
Today Genoa presented the last new arrivals: midfielders Bosko Jankovic of Palermo and Thiago Motta of Atletico Madrid. Jankovic was already bought at the 1st September, the last day of the transfer-season. Brazilian midfield-player Thiago Motta ended his contract this summer with Atletico Madrid and signed last Sunday just before Genoa-Milan his 4 years contract. The 26 years old Motta played 5 years and 38 Champions league matches with F.C. Barcelona. Because of a heavy knee-injury he left Barcelona last year to Atletico Madrid, but in the capital of Spain he played because of his injury only 8 matches. A detailed medical test in Milano told Genoa that Motta is completely healthy now, so within a month he must be ready to play his first match in our red and blue shirt.
Highlights Genoa-Milan 2-0, a great dream
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Like a dream: Genoa – Milan 2-0 (Sculli, Milito)
The last victory of Genoa against Milan was in 1984, so 24 years ago. This year Milan has 3 former winners of the golden ball for the best football-player of the world in the team: Kaka, Ronaldinho and Shevchenko and all 3 started in the line-up against Genoa. Milan lost 2 weeks ago the first match of the season against Bologna and Genoa lost 1-0 in Catania, so both teams had to win yesterday. Mr. Gasperini started with the returned son Diego Milito inbetween Sculli and Gasbarroni as strikers.
With almost 29.000 Genoa-fans in Luigi Ferraris stadium (Milan-fans were banned because they killed Claudio Spagnolo 13 years ago) our red and blue boys started very agressive against the big names of Milan. Immediately Genoa was the best team in the field with Gasbarroni as the most dangerous player who completely made Italian-international Zambrotta crazy. In the 30th minute Diego Milito played the ball with his breast towards Giuseppe Sculli who kicked the ball in the left-corner behind goalkeeper Abbiati: 1-0, which was also the score at the moment Rocchi whistled 3 times.
At halftime Ronaldinho and Shevchenko were substituted by Seedorf and our topscorer of last year Borriello. It must be said: in the second half both teams were equal, with Gasbarroni still as the best player in the field. Sculli missed 2 great chances to decide the match definitively, but on the other side Rubinho saved shots of Borriello and Pato. In the 90th minute Milito played the ball in the penalty-area besides captain Paolo Maldini who kicked his legs out of frustation. Referee Rocchi did the only thing he could do: whistle for a penalty. Milito scored the penalty: 2-0, game over !
Edgar Davids to Genova to have medical test
Saturday after the friendly match against Bellinzona Mr. Enrico Preziosi told the press that maybe another player arrives with Genoa. Because the transfermarket is closed it could only be a player without a contract at the moment. Last summer Edgar Davids refused to sign a new contract with Ajax and since that time he trains with AZ Alkmaar, opponent of Genoa a few weeks ago at Tropheo Spagnolo (Genoa won by 3-1). The news in Holland today says that Davids has an agreement with Genoa, but before he can sign the contract he first has to pass a very detailed medical test.
115 years old Genoa beats Bellinzona: 3-0
Today Genoa, the oldest club of Italy, has become 115 years. The party with 20.000 people was yesterday-evening in Luigi Ferraris stadium. Of course also the team of Mr. Gasperini was present at the party, while they played a friendy match in the afternoon in Switzerland against Bellinzona. Genoa beat Bellinzona, that plays next week against Galatasary in the Uefa-cup, with 3-0 by goals of Gasbarroni (2x) and Palladino in the first half. Diego Milito started in the line-up and played 60 minutes.
The “other” new arrivals: Jankovic and Brivo
Maybe the transfer of Bosko Jankovic is the most important of this summer. Since the injury of Matteo Paro in February we miss a substitute of Omar Milanetto and now we finally found him with Jankovic. The 24 years old central midfielder is raised with Red Star Belgrado, played 28 matches (9 goals) with Real Mallorca in the Spanish Primera Division in the season 2006-2007 and 26 matches with 2 goals last year with Palermo. Bosko also brings some useful “body” in our team with his 1.84 meters and 77 kilo’s.
With the departure of both Brazilians Fabiano and Danilo we lost both left midfielders in the team. Genoa already bought Francesco Modesto of Reggina this summer and with Davide Brivio we now also have a natural substitute. Davide is only 20 years and raised in the youth of Atalanta Bergamo. He already played 2 Serie A matches with Fiorentina and last year 27 matches with Vicenza in Serie B.
Friday again 220 seasontickets were sold, so Militomania still goes on. To show once again why Diego Milito is so populair hereby the highlights of the match Real Zaragoza-Real Madrid of 8th february 2006. Real Madrid played with Beckham, Ronaldo, Casillas, Robert Carlos, etc., but they were beaten by 6-1 with first 4 goals of Milito:
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Militomania: 700 seasontickets sold in 3 days
Mondaynight around 7 o’clock Genoa officialy bought Diego Alberto Milito and since that time all Genoa-fans are completely crazy about the return of the topscorer. Tuesdaynight just before midnight Diego was welcomed by 1000 fans at the Sheraton-hotel near the airport. Over 3.000 fans came Wednesday-afternoon to Gianluca Signorini trainingfield to watch the first training of Milito and the last 3 days over 700 seasontickets are sold.
