Genoa and Torino drew 0-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night in Serie A.
In what was a crucial match for two sides battling relegation Torino and the Rossoblu played out an uneventful draw to each secure a valuable point.
During a cagey first-half in Turin neither side creating a goal scoring chance of note, as both looked paralysed by a fear of what a loss could bring, as they attempt to ensure that remain in Serie A next season.
Torino had the first of what attacking exchanges there were, with Alessio Cerci striking from just outside the box into the arms of Sebastien Frey after just five minutes.
It was then the turn of the Grifone, wearing black armbands in recognition of the tragic container ship accident at the cities port the night before, to mount a half hearted attack, Juraj Kucka breaking down the right of the Granata box, only for his cross-cum-shot to be deflected for Jean-Francois Gillet to collect comfortably.
With the Turin crowd attempting to introduce some sense of urgency to proceedings, the game suddenly looked as though it would receive the spark needed, but Thomas Manfredini was only cautioned by referee Daniele Orsato after a reckless lunge on Rolando Bianchi midway through the first half.
It was Bianchi who then had the only other notably chance of the first period, however, as he attempted to curl the ball around Frey’s left hand side from inside the penalty area his shot was misplaced and went horribly wide.
While the match showed signs of an improvement after the interval, both sides having shots from distance through Cerci and then Marco Boriello for the Rossoblu, the game quickly reverted back to the same nervous approach as before.
With 15 minutes remaining Torino began to assert some pressure on the visitors, and Matteo Brighi won a free-kick on the edge of the Genoa box from Hungarian Daniel Toszer, but the Valter Birsa’s attempt was deflected over Frey’s goal.
In injury time Kamil Gilk played a carefully weighted ball through for the onrushing Paulo Barreto, but the Brazilians strike whistle just past Frey’s right hand post.
Seemingly content to share the spoils the game moved towards its conclusion with nothing more than the disruption of cheap fouls being conceded and players attempting to use the time wisely and run down the clock, while the point may be vital for both clubs the match will be quickly forgotten.
