Sassuolo 1-0 at the Mapei Stadium on Saturday evening.
Despite the Neroverdi’s relative domination, it was the away side which the took the lead through Blerim Dzemaili in the 42nd minute of the match. In the second-half Sassuolo continued to dominate but failed to find the equaliser.
The match started at a fast pace and it was Genoa who created the first meaningful chance. Tomas Rincon drove past Francesco Magnanelli before hitting a fierce shot goalwards, which was taken just wide of the post via a deflection from Francesco Acerbi.
The Neroverdi soon responded. Alfred Duncan raced up the field and shifted the ball inside to Sansone, who’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was denied by an excellent intervention by Mattia Perin.
However, against the run of play the Grifone took the lead. Tim Matavz was allowed the freedom of the park to fire a shot which cannoned off the post and into the path of Blerim Dzemaili, who simply tucked his effort past Andrea Consigli.
After the interval Sassuolo continued to pile on the pressure and should have equalised when Ezequiel Munoz’s failed clearance from the byline came straight to Magnanelli, but the Italian’s fierce strike was straight at Perin.
Following this the Neroverdi dominated the match but Genoa managed to hold firm, weathering multiple Sassuolo attacks.
In the 86th minute Matteo Politano cut inside from the right-wing and set up an angle to shoot from, but the on-loan winger drove his shot over the bar.
The result leaves Genoa in 10th place whereas Sassuolo stay seventh.
