Final result: Genoa-Cagliari 2-2
GENOA
Loyal 6.5 – Nothing can be done about the two penalty kicks from Marin and Piccoli. Always present and attentive to the balls that arrive in his area. Providential when he uses his big right hand to deflect Gaetano’s angled shot into a corner.
Sabelli 6.5 – Fresh from his contract renewal, he is deployed as a winger in the back four. In front of him he has Luvumbo which he manages to contain without any kind of problem. From 68′ Messias 6 – Returns to the field after the injury, plays an orderly section.
Bani 6 – Returns to central defense after a long injury. Some inaccuracies such as on the occasion of Gaetano’s poisonous conclusion saved by Leali. Present on headers in the area, he grows in the second half.
Matturro 6 – He goes from being the “arm boy” with three to the role of central defender with four. A few too many imperfections for the Uruguayan but in the end he still manages to bring home a sufficient performance.
Martin 5.5 – He pushes a lot on the left wing, exploiting the spaces given to him and the gaps on the left. A few more thrills in the non-possession phase against a tough opponent like Zappa, causing the 2-2 penalty. From 89′ Balotelli sv
Thorsby 7 – He goes from playing in the midfield in the non-possession phase to playing as a winger in the pushing phase. He widens his arm too much on the occasion of Cagliari’s penalty, comes close to scoring following Miretti’s suggestion and always serves the former Juventus player the ball to make it 2-1.
Badelj 7 – A giant in the middle of the field. In the moment of greatest difficulty he carries Genoa on his shoulders like a leader knows how to do. His openings for attacking midfielders were delightful, and he was invaluable in recoveries.
Frendrup 7 – The usual quantity in the middle of the pitch wasn’t enough for him, now the Danish midfielder rediscovers himself as a goalscorer by pouncing like a bird of prey on a vacant ball in the penalty area, transforming it into the equalizer. To the joy of Vieira and the rossoblù people.
Zanoli 6.5 – Assatanato when he has to chase the man, he often proposes himself on the right wing also looking for the conclusion when the opportunity presents itself. He does both phases of the game well. From 77′ Vasquez sv
Miretti 7 – The more advanced position perhaps helps him, he shows some good ideas in the attacking phase like when he takes advantage of a gem from Badelj on the occasion that then happened to Thorsby. In the second half he broke the deadlock by finding the net to make it 2-1 and making the most of an assist from Thorsby. From 77′ Vogliacco sv
Pinamonti 6.5 – Full physical duel against Mina and Luperto. He plays with the island’s central defenders and serves several balls for his teammates’ insertions into the penalty area. From 89′ Vitinha sv
Patrick Vieira 6 – Genoa does not break the “Ferraris” taboo. In the end there was a bitter draw with two penalties conceded. Even if flashes of play were seen and his team still comes out to applause.
CAGLIARI (edited by Alessio Piazza)
Sherri 5.5 – Not guilty of the goals conceded. Shows some insecurity with imprecise interventions at the start of the match. Then it resumes and the exits into the area, as well as the providential closure on Pinamonti, are precise.
Hoe 6 – He cleans up the game well on the right and when he is in the cross area he always shows excellent execution technique.
Mine 5.5 – Guilty on Frendrup’s 1-1 goal where he intervenes badly and plays the ball centrally on which the Griffin attacking midfielder pounces and leaves Sherri no chance. Then he shows himself attentive in closing with his usual charisma, at times excessive.
Luperto 5.5 – Attentive to keeping the defense line as high as possible, he is good at closing interventions in the first half. In the second half, however, he let himself be overcome too easily by Thorsby who provided the assist for Miretti’s goal.
Augello 6 – Several runs in the first half with interesting crosses. The dialogue with Lovumbo was good, often putting him in a position to cross from the left. From 64′ Obert 5.5 – His entry perhaps brings more aggression to the midfield but in this way the pushes on the right wing are almost no longer seen.
Marine 6.5 – Ice-cold from 11 metres, he leaves Leali no chance with a central conclusion. He loses a dangerous ball in the first half but, otherwise, plays a game of substance. From 68′ Makoumbou 6 – Aggression, running and pressing in midfield. He does exactly what Nicola asks of him.
After 6 – Elegance in playing the ball even under pressure. There is a lack of good will in helping his defense teammates with doubles. From 76′ Deiola sv
Zortea 5.5 – The winger has some interesting crosses under his belt but in the first 45 minutes he doesn’t handle several balls well. From 64′ Pavoletti 6 – At the first useful ball he shows his trademark, with a header he flies it which almost surprises Leali.
Gaetano 5 – After a sprint start by both teams, he understands that it is time to limit Badelj’s plays and is good at throwing shade into the Genoa midfielder’s passing lines. The missed goal that led to the counterattack which resulted in the temporary 2-1 for Genoa cost him dearly From 76′ Viola 6 – He immediately shows his technical qualities with a couple of beautiful brushstrokes. Then I make an intervention that costs him a direct red card but is saved by VAR.
Luvumbo 7 – He defends the ball well and is good at getting a foul on several occasions. The constant dialogue on the left with Augello was good. A thorn in his side throughout the match with his dribbling and his forays into the area.
Small 6.5 – With Zortea he is unable to find the right chemistry and they often don’t get along. Then try the other side with Lovumbo but the result is the same. The third half was nice with his header in the area midway through the first half. In the second half a lot of sacrifice and a 2-2 goal from a penalty.
Davide Nicola 6.5 – His attitude is the right one. It shows that the result against Milan is not the result of chance but of a lot of work that his players always put in on the pitch. Grit and organization can allow him to achieve yet another salvation.