An emphatic finish from Alessandro Zanoli was enough for Genoa to secure all three points with a 1-0 victory at home against Udinese in Serie A’s Friday night kick-off slot to kick-off an action-packed 31st round of 2024-25 fixtures.
Patrick Vieira and Kosta Runjaic both made a handful of changes to their sides following their respective losses against Juventus and Inter last weekend.
Click here to read more about how the teams lined up.
Morten Thorsby threatened for the hosts early on with a header destined for the corner of the net, but Maduka Okoye got across his line well to make the save. Andrea Pinamonti also drew a save from the Udinese ‘keeper shortly afterwards.
Andrea Pinamonti had a glorious opportunity to put Genoa ahead just after the half-hour mark: Morten Thorsby’s cross was perfectly placed, Pinamonti rose highest, headed downwards, but did not get the required connection on the ball, which took some of the sting out of his header and helped Okoye make the save.
Lucca had the ball in the back of the net in the 37th minute. Jaka Bijol bypassed the entire Genoa team with a fine ball over the top for Lucca to chase. The towering Italy international brought it down and finished, but was adjudged to have fouled Koni De Winter in the process.
It took 73 minutes for Udinese to register their first legal shot on target, which was also the first from either side in the second half.
Kingsley Ehizibue provided the cross in from the right flank, from which substitute Rui Modesto powered a header towards the roof of the net, requiring an acrobatic save from Nicola Leali.
Responding to Udinese’s warning, Genoa got themselves ahead just a few minutes later. Caleb Ekuban got down the left flank, looked to hit the byline and send in a low cross, but it was deflected off BIjol, which took it past the defenders in the middle and to the feet of Zanoli at the far post, who slammed an emphatic finish into the roof of the net for 1-0.
Ekuban almost got one for himself 10 minutes before time, drawing ...
