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Genoa draws against Livorno: 1-1
This afternoon Marco di Vaio saved Genoa in the 83rd minute by scoring the equalizer at the moment we played only with 10 players after the red card of Santos. In the first half Genoa was the best team in the field, but in the 15th minute at the only moment Livorno went forwards Tavano scored: 1-0. Already after 28 minutes Mr. Gasperini brought De Vaio in the team and in the second half also Sculli and Figueroa, raising the number of strikers in 4. Genoa also in the second half was the best team in the field, but after Santos got his second yellow card in the 75th minute we all were frightend that Genoa would return to Liguria without points. Genoa is now on the 9th position in the standings with 29 points.
Mr. Gasperini takes 22 players to Livorno
Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini won’t feel alone tomorrow in Livorno. Our very friendly coach selected 22 of his total 24 players to go to Livorno, which means that 4 of them have to watch the match in the stadium tomorrow. Only 3rd goalkeeper Lanza and Brasilian striker Wilson (injured) are not selected. The 22 players:
Goalkeepers: Rubinho, Scarpi
Defenders: Bovo, Criscito, De Rosa, Ghinassi, Konko, Lucarelli, Santos
Midfielders: Danilo, Fabiano, Juric, Masiero, Milanetto, Paro, Rossi, Vanden Borre
Strikers: Borriello, Di Vaio, Figueroa, Leon, Sculli
Around 2500 Genoa-supporters travel 187 kilometers on the A-12 tomorrow to reach Livorno the team of old-Genoa president Spinelli. Both Rubinho and Sculli have to keep their minds cool, because a yellow card of referee Romeo means that they have to miss the derby next week.
Marco Borriello in Italian national team
Our topscorer Marco Borriello yesterday played the last 20 minutes with Worldchampions Italy against Portugal in Zurich, Switzerland. It was Marco’s first match in the Italian national team and he deserves it being the Italian player with the most goals in Serie A. Italy did win the match by 3-1. The last Genoano in the Italian team was Gennaro Ruotolo (our Genoano of the year 1998-1999) 17 years ago. Besides Borriello also Mimmo Criscito (Italy) and Anthony Vanden Borre (Belgium) played this week with their national team below 21 years against Holland and Germany .
Genoa wins again: 2-1 against Catania
The new 3-5-2 concept of Mr. Gasperini with Borriello and Figueroa together as strikers directly gave us 3 points. After 14 minutes Borriello’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Polito, but the ball jumped towards Danilo: 1-0. Again after 14 minutes – this time in the second half – another goal of Genoa but very unlucky Bovo headed the ball in our own goal: 1-1. Of course Genoa did everything to win and in the 71st minute after hands of an Catania-player we got a penalty, that was realized by Borriello: 2-1.
Genoa is now on the shared 8th position in the standings, together with Palermo and Sampdoria, the others of Genova that are our home-opponent in 2 weeks in the derby.
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Tomorrow: Borriello + Figueroa together ?!
All the newspapers are sure: tomorrow for the first time Borriello and Figueroa start together in the line-up of Genoa. Mr. Gasperini doesn’t have many alternatives at the moment because Leon is injured, Sculli has some fysical problems, Wilson is still waiting at the transferdocuments from Brasil and Di Vaio was out of the team the last weeks.
Mr. Gasperini went this afternoon with the following 19 players in the Sheraton hotel near Genova-airport Cristoforo Colombo to prepare for tomorrow’s match:
Goalkeepers: Scarpi, Lanza
Defenders: Bovo, Criscito, Ghinassi, Konko, Lucarelli, Santos
Midfielders: Danilo, Fabiano, Juric, Masiero, Paro, Rossi, Vanden Borre
Strikers: Borriello, Di Vaio, Figueroa, Sculli
Thanks to Manuel, Andrea, Cicco and Papa
This evening at 19.00 hours the transferperiod in January ended in Italy. Genoa sold 4 substitutes: defenders: Andrea Masiello (Bari, Serie B) and Francesco Bega (Brescia, Serie B), midfielder Manuel Coppola (Siena) and striker Papa Waigo (Fiorentina). Only Francesco Bega is sold definitively, 50% of the ownership of the other 3 is still in Genoa’s hands.
Genoa also bought 4 players: Domenico Criscito (substitute of Masiello), Anthony Vanden Borre (Bega), Matias Masiero (Coppola) and Wilson (Papa Waigo). The new players are younger and all very talented, so let’s hope they can improve with Mr. Gasperini.
Genoa Club Amsterdam wants to thank Genoano of the year 2005-2006 Manuel Coppola for the special friendship and we hope “Coppolino” returns after this season in his loved red and blue shirt. On the other hand we are happy that Marco di Vaio stays with us and we hope he will play and score again very soon, like he did always and everywhere.
Highlights Milan-Genoa
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Milan beats good Genoa: 2-0
Without 4 line-up players (Criscito, De Rosa, Leon and Wilson) Genoa played a good match and lost only in the last 21 minutes. It was youngster Pato that scored in the 69th and 83rd (offside ?) minute both goals. Actually the match was over after 70 minutes when our goalkeeper Rubinho got a red card after saving the ball with his hands outside the penalty-area. Next week against Catania in Luigi Ferraris we surely miss Rubinho (red card) and Milanetto (4th yellow card), but let’s hope the 4 missing line-up players of today can return in the team of Mr. Gasperini.
Mr. Gasperini has defensive problems
Genoa-coach Gian Piero Gasperini has defensive problems for tomorrow’s match against Worldchampions A.C. Milan. Domenico Criscito is banned because of his 4th yellow card, Andrea Masiello was sold this week to Bari while Cicco Bega and Gaetano de Rosa are injured. Only 4 defenders are left in the selection of 18 players:
goalkeepers: Rubinho, Scarpi
defenders: Bovo, Ghinassi, Lucarelli, Santos
midfielders: Danilo, Fabiano, Juric, Konko, Masiero, Milanetto, Pato, Rossi, Vanden Borre
strikers: Borriello, Figueroa, Sculli
Besides the defensive problems, also the strikers Leon and Wilson are not healthy enough to play tomorrow in the biggest stadium of Italy. Because of the rivalty between Genoa- and Milanfans it is forbidden to Genoani to visit the match.