Palacio 7′ (Genoa), Dias 25′ (Lazio), Floccari 32′ (Lazio)
Stadio Ferraris
Sergio Floccari made up for last week’s derby debacle by scoring the winner against 10-man Genoa.
Both teams recently lost local derbies and are suffering in the shadow of their rivals’ success this season. Genoa were still in with an outside chance of the Europa League, but the Biancocelesti weren’t yet safe from relegation. Dario Dainelli’s ban meant a defensive reshuffle, while Houssine Kharja, Bosko Jankovic, Marco Rossi and David Suazo were sidelined. Lazio’s Cristian Ledesma and Aleksandar Kolarov were suspended, joining the injured Guglielmo Stendardo, Mourad Meghni and Francelino Matuzalem.
The fans and Genoa paid tribute to former defender Andrea Fortunato on the 15th anniversary of his tragic death from leukaemia.
Lazio had a strong record at Marassi, winning their last three visits and unbeaten here since 1992. Stefano Mauri had a good chance from a corner in the opening minutes.
However, a foolish defensive error allowed Genoa to take the lead. A free kick was taken quickly while Lazio’s players complained to the referee and Rodrigo Palacio slapped the angled drive across Nando Muslera from outside the box completely undisturbed.
Sergio Floccari’s header skimmed the bar against his former club, but it was Andre Dias who equalised. A corner found the defender soaring to nod in from six yards, although Alessio Scarpi was caught in no man’s land.
Genoa lost Emiliano Moretti to injury and were caught napping as Lazio fought back to turn the game around completely. A free kick over the top ricocheted around the box and Floccari was quickest to react by toe-poking in at the near post from a couple of yards.
The home team reacted with Raffaele Palladino turning in the area to test Muslera with a one-handed save.
Floccari spread the play for Tommaso Rocchi’s right-foot strike to crack against the bar on the counter-attack after 35 minutes.
There were no doubts about the offside flag when Rocchi tapped in a parried Floccari snapshot.
Genoa wasted a good opportunity to equalise at the dawn of the second half, as Palladino tried to make his pass too fancy for Robert Acquafresca and allowed Dias to intercept.
Muslera tipped a rising Fatic strike out from under the bar and Edy Reja was sent off for dissent, walking very slowly all the way across the pitch to reach the locker rooms.
Genoa went down to 10 men thanks to a second bookable offence from Salvatore Bocchetti for hauling back Floccari.
Nonetheless, Mimmo Criscito’s powerful header from an Omar Milanetto free kick tested Muslera’s reflexes.
It should’ve been 3-1 late on, but Mauro Zarate’s cross-shot flashed across Julio Cruz when only a touch would’ve put it in the net.
Genoa: Scarpi; Papasthatopoulos, Bocchetti, Moretti (Mesto 26); Tomovic (Fatic 51), Milanetto, Juric, Criscito; Palacio, Acquafresca, Palladino (Sculli 61)
Lazio: Muslera; Biava, Dias, Radu; Lichtsteiner, Brocchi, Baronio, Mauri, Del Nero (Siviglia 92); Rocchi (Zarate 67), Floccari (Cruz 75)
Ref: Morganti
Sent off: Bocchetti 69 (G)