Genoa ended a six-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.
The away side left it late but two goals in as many minutes from Blerim Dzemaili and Leonardo Pavoletti condemned the hosts to their fourth straight Serie A defeat.
The game began brightly when Alberto Grassi spurned a golden chance from close-range within minutes.
There were few chances of note during the opening exchanges, with Genoa looking to exploit the hosts on the counter-attack.
Pavoletti ought to have done better with an attempt after 39 minutes as the Grifone cranked up the pressure.
The away side could have opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, however, Tomas Rincon’s audacious effort deflected off Luca Cigarini and skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Pavoletti then met Luca Rigoni’s delivery on the hour mark but the forward could not direct his header towards goal.
The biggest chance of the half fell to Diego Capel on 73 minutes but the attacker’s left-footed volley deflected out for a corner.
The visitors made their superiority count 12 minutes from time when substitute Dzemaili volleyed home Rincon’s delightful cross.
The Grifone soon doubled their advantage when Rincon spring forward and squared the ball across to Pavoletti who slid the ball into an empty net.
Gaetano Monachello could have halved the deficit three minutes from time when he flashed a close-range effort wide.
The result pulls Gian Piero Gasperini’s side four points clear of the relegation zone while Atalanta’s search for a first win since December 6 continues.
