Catania pushed their unbeaten streak against Genoa at the Stadio Massimino to six straight games as the Sicilian club claimed a 1-1 draw
Sunday’s match was a game of returns for the Grifone as coach Gian Piero Gasperini took the helm of the club for the second time in his career following last weekend’s dismissal of Fabio Liverani.
Midfield maestro Francesco Lodi was also making a return, playing in his first match against his former team Catania as the whistles and jeers rained down from the crowd.
It was Lodi’s former team-mates that looked the brightest early on, controlling much of the opening quarter of an hour of the game, even having a goal ruled out due to offsides. Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin spilled a long range effort from Lucas Castro that, fortunately for the young shot-stopper, didn’t punish his side.
Gasperini’s charges began to settle into the game after the 25 minute mark with Matuzalem, Juraj Kucka and Mario Santana all having strikes from beyond 18-yards that kept Catania goalkeeper Andujar on his toes. The Grifone were unable to breakdown the Catania back four and really test Andujar throughout the first half as Catania deflected every Genoa attack.
Gasperini re-installed his famed 3-4-3 formation with Genoa and at times the club looked quite positive despite being unable to bring striker Alberto Gilardino into play in front of goal for much of the game.
Just before halftime Genoa won a free-kick just outside the penalty area as Barrientos clattered into Thomas Manfredini. Lodi’s ensuing free-kick was met by Gilardino who put it into the back of the net, but like Catania previously, the goal was ruled out for offsides, taking the game scoreless into halftime.
In the second half it was the Rossazzurri who drew first blood as Barrientos controlled a poorly cleared ball by Luca Antonini and slotted it past Perin. The former Milan defender’s miss kick fell straight to the Argentine, though he still had to be pinpoint accurate to beat the Genoa No. 1.
With Genoa down a goal, the pace of the match was ratcheted up a notch. Adrian Stoian and Ioannis Fetfatzidis were both introduced by the club to add more attacking muscle. Meanwhile, Catania looked to solidify their midfield and preserve their slim lead.
The Rossazzurri continued to repel Genoa’s attack until the 88th minute when a harmless cross from the left wing glanced off of Nicola Legrottaglie’s head and into his goal. Until that time Genoa’s plan had been to get the ball wide and cross it into Gilardino, and their persistence finally paid off.
