In a thrilling match at the Tardini Stadium, Genoa emerged victorious against Parma, ending a two-month winless streak and climbing out of the bottom spot in the Serie A table. The game was decided by a late goal from Andrea Pinamonti, sealing a 1-0 win for Alberto Gilardino’s side.
The match began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm in the foggy conditions. The first half saw few clear-cut chances, with Parma’s Haj firing wide after replacing the injured Bernabé, while Mihaila’s free-kick sailed over the bar. Genoa’s best opportunity came from Pinamonti, whose header went wide from a corner kick.
As the second half progressed, Parma manager Fabio Pecchia made several substitutions in an attempt to break the deadlock. However, it was Genoa who looked more threatening, with Pinamonti hitting the post and Thorsby forcing a good save from Parma goalkeeper Suzuki.
The decisive moment came in the 79th minute when Pinamonti capitalized on a rebound from Suzuki’s save off Ekhator’s shot. The goal stood despite Parma’s earlier disallowed effort due to a marginal offside call confirmed by VAR.
Perhaps the most notable moment of the match came in the final minutes when Mario Balotelli made his long-awaited return to Serie A after 1,701 days. The controversial striker, who was cautioned for dissent, played the last nine minutes of the game, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Goals: Pinamonti 80′ (G)
Parma (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Coulibaly, Delprato, Balogh, Valeri; Keita (46′ Almqvist), Bernabé (16′ Haj Mohamed, (46′ Estevez); Man, Sohm, Mihaila (’83’ Benedyczak); Bonny (64′ Charpentier).
Genoa (3-5-2): Leali; Vogliacco, Vasquez, Matturro; Zanoli (74′ Sabelli), Thorsby, Badelj (’86’ Masini), Frendrup, Martin (74′ Ahanor); Ekhator (’86’ Balotelli), Pinamonti
