Genoa – Lecce 2 – 1: Miretti’s Brace.

Genoa – Lecce 2-1: Miretti’s Brace

On the evening of March 14 at 20:45, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, the 29th round of Serie A ended with a 2-1 victory for Genoa over Lecce. The teams finished in 12th and 16th place, respectively.

Lecce has won only one of the last 15 Serie A encounters against Genoa, a 1-0 victory on September 22, 2023, thanks to a goal by Rémi Oudin. Genoa, on the other hand, remains unbeaten in the last 8 home games against Lecce in Serie A, with the best home record in the competition, surpassed only by Venezia (9 matches). Additionally, Genoa has won 6 of the last 7 encounters against Lecce in the second half of the season, scoring at least two goals in each.

For the match, Lecce lined up with the same starting eleven that faced Milan, with Jean and Helgason winning their respective battles. Genoa, however, saw the return of Pinamonti as the central striker, with Malinovskyi playing behind him. Sabelli won his battle against Norton-Cuffy. Genoa had several key players absent, including Ahanor, Balotelli, Bani, Messias, Vitinha, Cornet, and Ekuban.

Lecce came into the match with three consecutive losses, the latest being a 3-2 defeat to Milan, despite a strong performance in the first hour of play. Their last win was on January 31, a 3-1 victory over Parma. Since then, they have earned only 2 points in 5 matches but are still outside the relegation zone.

Genoa, on the other hand, came into this match after a 1-1 draw against Cagliari and Empoli, and a 2-0 victory over Venezia, maintaining a 10-point cushion above the relegation zone.

First Half

The first half of Genoa-Lecce ended with the score 1-0 in favor of the hosts. A goal by Fabio Miretti in the 16th minute decided the first half, though there were moments of tension and chances for both teams.

The match started with Lecce trying to control the game, maintaining 52% possession in the first 30 minutes. However, it was Genoa who created the first dangerous chances, although they failed to capitalize. In the 16th minute, after a well-executed play by Malinovskyi, Miretti scored with a beautiful volley that beat Falcone, giving Genoa the lead.

Throughout the first half, Lecce had a few opportunities to respond. In the 4th minute, Berisha attempted a shot, but it missed the target. Later, Helgason tried a free kick, but it accidentally hit Pinamonti, who stayed on the ground for a moment. Genoa continued to press, with Miretti narrowly missing a second goal in the 26th minute when his shot grazed the post.

Yellow Cards

There were moments of tension as well. In the 29th minute, Aaron Martin was booked for a foul on Pierotti, while in the 34th minute, Miretti received a yellow card for reacting to a challenge. The match also saw several fouls committed by both sides, with referee Maresca interrupting play multiple times. One of the key incidents saw Krstovic at risk of being fouled by De Winter but he kept pushing forward, searching for the right opportunity for Lecce.

With Miretti’s goal, Genoa went into the break ahead, but the match remained open, and Lecce would need to react in the second half to turn the game around.

Second Half

Genoa-Lecce 2-1: Victory for the Hosts with a Miretti Brace and a Krstovic Penalty

Genoa secured an important 2-1 win at the Ferraris stadium, defeating Lecce thanks to a brace from Fabio Miretti and a penalty converted by Nikola Krstovic. This victory brings Vieira’s team closer to safety, while Lecce leaves the field with some regrets for not taking advantage of their chances throughout the match.

The first half had ended with Genoa leading 1-0, thanks to Miretti’s goal in the 16th minute from a splendid volley following an assist from Malinovskyi. Although Lecce had maintained possession, Genoa had been the more dangerous team, and could have doubled their lead on several occasions, but the first half ended 1-0.

In the second half, Lecce tried to react, increasing the pressure and creating several chances. In the 68th minute, Krstovic converted a penalty after Matturro handled a shot from Veiga. The Montenegrin’s goal brought the match back to life, but Genoa continued to defend resolutely, striving to maintain their lead.

VAR Intervenes

Lecce, despite making attacking changes like bringing on Banda and N’Dri, failed to find the equalizer. Some situations saw the VAR intervene, but without changing the referee Maresca’s decisions. The referee also booked several players during the second half, including Vasquez and Krstovic, but Genoa stood firm and held on for the 2-1 victory.

Lecce had a few more chances, including a shot from Karlsson and a header from Krstovic, but Leali was always there to deny them. Genoa, for its part, made the most of their opportunity with Miretti, who sealed the win with an outstanding performance.

The match ended with a 2-1 scoreline in favor of Genoa, who earned three crucial points for their survival fight. Lecce, on the other hand, will regret not capitalizing on their opportunities, but Giampaolo’s side will look to bounce back in the upcoming matches.

Official Lineups – Lecce:

Lecce lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with:
Falcone – Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Gallo – Coulibaly, Berisha – Pierotti, Helgason, Tete Morente – Krstovic.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.
Bench: Früchtl, Samooja – Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Danilo Veiga – Kaba, N’Dri, Rafia, Ramadani – Karlsson, Banda, Burnete, Rebic.

Official Lineups – Genoa:

Genoa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with:
Leali – Sabelli, De Winter, J.Vásquez, A.Martín – Frendrup, Masini – Zanoli, Malinovskyi, Miretti – Pinamonti.
Coach: Patrick Vieira.
Bench: Sommariva, Siegrist – Norton-Cuffy, Matturro – Onana, Badelj, Barbini, Carbone – Ekhator, X.Nuredini, Papastylianou, Venturino.

Article by Rebecca Olivieri