Genoa earned a potentially decisive victory in this relegation tussle with Venezia thanks to a Mikael Ellertsson screamer against his former club.
This was a pure relegation dogfight at Marassi. The Grifone seemed to turn a corner with their 2-1 win over Fiorentina before the 2-0 loss at Roma. Kingsley Ehizibue, Djibril Sow and Lorenzo Venturino missed out, with Lorenzo Colombo and Amorim not at 100 per cent, so Mario Mitaj got his Serie A debut.
Davide Nicola made the perfect start on the Lagunari bench, beating Napoli 1-0 for the team’s first points of the season. Thierry Correia, Andrea Adorante, Marin Sverko and Bartol Franjic were still injured.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
The hosts took the early initiative, a Leo Ostigard header easy for Filip Stankovic and Junior Messias drilling wide from the edge of the area.
However, Venezia were dangerous on the counter-attack, Justin Bijlow making a tough save on John Yeboah after combining with Akor Adams.
Moments later, Genoa took the lead thanks to a sensational solo strike from former Venezia midfielder Mikael Ellertsson, who hit a left-foot screamer from outside the area into the near top corner. He did not celebrate against his old club out of respect.
Junior Messias scuffed a volley just wide from the smart dinked Stephan El Shaarawy ball over the top, but Bijlow had to be alert to push the Yeboah cross-shot round the far post.
Venezia came out fighting for the restart, as Ridgeciano Haps and Redouane Halhal headers were not up to scratch, then Bijlow spilled snapshots from Kike Perez and Adams.
Simon Sohm should’ve done better with a free header over the bar from a corner, then Yeboah’s acrobatic attempt from another set play was deflected inches off target.
Samuel Wiafe went off with a suspected groin injury and the Kike Perez cross-shot flashed not far wide of the top corner.
In added time, Bijlow had his gloves stung by Adams and had to be alert to keep all three points.
Genoa 1-0 Venezia
Ellertsson 25 (G)
Player statistic
| Mikael Egill Ellertsson (Assist: Stephan El Shaarawy) |
 |
25' |
| Sebastian Otoa |  |
55' |
Starting lineups
