Third consecutive success for Fiorentina of Italian who wins Marassi 2-1 against Genoa. Substantial performance of the Viola who, on a heavy pitch due to the heavy rain, put the arrow in the second half: first the newly entered Saponara and then Bonaventura (on a delightful assist from Saponara) give success to the Tuscans. Criscito’s penalty is useless when the time is up. With this result, Fiorentina momentarily catches the head of the standings at 9 points, while Genoa remains stationary at 3. At the start Ballardini decides to tackle a more cautious 4-4-1-1, with Melegoni behind Destro. In the median there is the former Badelj, with the confirmed Cambiaso on the outside.
Fiorentina replied with the usual 4-3-3 of Italian, which shuffles the cards a little: out Milenkovic and Torreira, who give way to Martinez Quarta and Pulgar. On the field, in addition to Vlahovic, also Callejon and Castrovilli together with the returning Nico Gonzalez. Under the flood of Marassi the match begins with the guests taking command of the operations: Genoa appears nervous and not very tidy, getting three yellow cards in the first 20 ‘of the game.
Viola builds games and chances, despite the pitch being soaked with water and the ball does not rotate smoothly: the first chance is signed by Biraghi, who commits Sirigu on a free kick. At 25 ‘Italian is forced to the first forced change: Castrovilli slams violently against the post and is forced to raise the white flag (inside Duncan). The first half slips away with a few jolts and a game that struggles to take off: Genoa stands out for the first time with Destro, walled out by Dragowski. Fiorentina replied with Bonaventura who once again called Sirigu to overtime.
In the second half the two coaches immediately try to change something: Ballardini warms up Pandev, while Italiano puts Saponara in place of Nico Gonzalez. Just the move of the Viola coach was rewarded in the 60th minute, with Fiorentina taking the lead: Saponara invented a trajectory from the left that was unstoppable for Sirigu, with the ball going out on the net for the visiting team’s 0-1. Genoa, with Pandev and Hernani on the pitch, try to react quickly: in the 66th minute, Behrami’s big protests over a contact in the area with Martinez Quarta, but the referee and the VAR say that we can continue.
The Viola try to take advantage of the opponent’s nervousness, touching the doubling with the broadside of Duncan from the edge: prodigious Sirigu who with a feline reflex smanaccia in the corner. Genoa with few ideas tries the final assault, but the umpteenth restart of Fiorentina closes the game: Saponara again to inspire, freeing Bonaventura who with a precise right bags the 2-0 that sends the credits. The penalty scored by Criscito at the end only makes the defeat for Genoa less bitter.