Genoa move closer to Serie A safety with a dramatic win at the Ferraris, in a match marked by brilliance, controversy, and a halftime brawl.
Genoa took a major step toward securing Serie A survival with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sassuolo at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. A stunning opener from Ruslan Malinovskyi and a late winner from Caleb Ekuban sealed the three points in a match that also featured a chaotic halftime incident.
The hosts started brightly and broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a moment of pure quality. Malinovskyi unleashed a precise left-footed strike from distance, curling the ball perfectly into the corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. It was a goal worthy of deciding any match—but there was plenty more drama to come.
Just before the start of the second half, tensions boiled over in the tunnel, resulting in a physical altercation between the players. The referee responded by sending off Domenico Berardi and Genoa’s Ellertsson, leaving both teams to play the remainder of the match with ten men.
Sassuolo capitalized on the reset early in the second half. After a save from Justin Bijlow, the rebound fell kindly to Koné, who reacted quickest to slot home the equalizer and bring the visitors back into the game.
With the match finely balanced and heading toward a draw, Genoa found the decisive moment late on. Substitute Junior Messias provided the spark, threading a pass into the box for Ekuban, who made no mistake from close range to restore the lead in the 84th minute.
From there, Genoa managed the closing stages with determination, holding off Sassuolo’s late push to secure a crucial victory. The result brings them significantly closer to mathematical safety, while Sassuolo remains in a precarious position heading into the final weeks of the season.
Match Report
Genoa 2-1 Sassuolo
Scorers: Malinovskyi 18’, Koné 57’, Ekuban 84’
Genoa (3-4-2-1): Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez; Ellertsson, Malinovskyi (55’ Masini), Frendrup, Sabelli (87’ Otoa); Baldanzi (55’ Martin), Vitinha (75’ Messias); Colombo (55’ Ekuban).
Head Coach: De Rossi
Sassuolo (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz (67’ Coulibaly), Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig (81’ Lipani); Thorstvedt, Matic (67’ Volpato), Koné (87’ Moro); Berardi, Pinamonti (81’ Iannoni), Laurienté.
Head Coach: Grosso
Referee: Rapuano
Yellow Cards: Malinovskyi (Genoa), Frendrup (Genoa), Doig, Walukiewicz, Muharemovic (Sassuolo)
Red Cards: Berardi (Sassuolo), Ellertsson (Genoa)
