Genoa are safe in Serie A as things stand, having taken a 3-0 lead over Hellas Verona, while Lecce fought back to draw 2-2 with Parma.
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The Grifone found themselves needing a victory in this final round to be sure of avoiding relegation, as Lecce had closed the gap to just one point, but they still had the superior head-to-head record.
Ivan Radovanovic and Stefano Sturaro missed out for Genoa, while Verona made the trip without Alan Empereur, Marash Kumbulla, Claud Adjapong, Pawel Dawidowicz and Salvatore Bocchetti. It was an emotional occasion for former Genoa player and coach Ivan Juric, who knew he could help send his beloved club down to Serie B, while Miguel Veloso is married to the daughter of Genoa President Enrico Preziosi.
Verona were determined to prove they would be fair in this and Federico Dimarco drilled just wide in the opening minute, but it was Genoa who broke through when Lukas Lerager flew down the right and whipped in a perfect cross for the diving header of Toni Sanabria.
The striker had been a big injury doubt for the game, but was determined to participate. News also came through that Lecce were losing at home to Parma.
There was a big loss for Genoa, as captain Domenico Criscito limped off with an ankle injury just 22 minutes in, making way for Antonio Barreca.
However, the Grifone still doubled their lead when Goran Pandev’s inspired through ball off the outside of the left boot sent Sanabria clear down the middle to fire in his second of the game.
Amir Rrahmani’s effort took a deflection off Cristian Romero, but Matteo Pessina couldn’t make the most of it when one-on-one with Mattia Perin.
Instead, Genoa were again far more clinical and went 3-0 up, Cristian Romero leaping above the crowd for a towering header on a corner. It was just as well they had that advantage, because news came through that Lecce had fought back from 2-0 down to 2-2 at half-time.
Hellas Verona saw Pessina stretchered off in first half stoppages following a Romero bookable offence in midfield, seemingly with a sprained ankle.
Genoa 3-0 Verona (Half-Time)
Sanabria 13, 25 (G), Romero 44 (G)
Genoa: Perin; C Zapata, Romero, Masiello; Ankersen, Lerager, Behrami, Jagiello, Criscito (Barreca 22); Pandev, Sanabria
Verona: Radunovic; Rrhamani, Gunter, Dimarco; Faraoni, Amrabat, Veloso, Lazovic; Eysseric, Pessina; Di Carmine
Ref: Irrati
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