Genoa secured a vital 2-0 away victory against Hellas Verona, with super-sub Vitinha and Leo Østigård finding the net at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
Genoa clinched a crucial 2-0 away victory against Hellas Verona at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on March 15, 2026. Substitute Vitinha proved the difference, scoring just moments after entering the field to break a tense deadlock.
Heading into this Serie A clash, Hellas Verona sat precariously at 19th in the standings, desperate for points. Genoa, positioned at 14th, aimed to create more distance from the relegation zone. The visitors had shown slightly better form recently, making this a significant fixture for both sides.
The match began with a competitive, albeit physical, edge. Hellas Verona’s Daniel Oyegoke received an early yellow card in the 6th minute for a rough challenge. The home side continued to struggle for rhythm, accumulating several fouls in the midfield.
Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro also entered the referee's book on 31 minutes for tripping, highlighting Verona’s aggressive approach. Despite the physical play, neither side managed to create truly clear-cut opportunities during the first period.
Genoa enjoyed more possession throughout the initial 45 minutes but could not convert it into shots on target. The first half ended goalless, reflecting a cautious and largely uneventful affair between two battling teams.
Both teams likely sought to inject more attacking impetus and creativity after the quiet first half. Genoa, with their superior possession, needed to sharpen their final third delivery. Verona, meanwhile, required more inventive play to trouble the visitors' defence.
The second half brought a pivotal tactical change from Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino. In the 60th minute, Vitinha was introduced, replacing Caleb Ekuban, and his impact was almost instantaneous. Just one minute later, in the 61st minute, Vitinha broke the deadlock for Genoa, slotting home the opener.
Hellas Verona responded with substitutions, bringing on players like Antonio Harroui and Rares Belghali. However, they struggled to generate a meaningful response, and their attacking efforts remained largely stifled. Their inability to test the Genoa goalkeeper was a key factor.
As the game entered its final stages, Genoa sealed their victory with a second goal. Leo Østigård doubled the lead in the 86th minute, guided home after an assist from fellow substitute Aarón Martín. Vitinha, despite his goal-scoring heroics, received a yellow card for elbowing in the 81st minute.
Genoa’s dominance was reflected in the statistics, boasting 58% ball possession compared to Verona’s 42%. The visitors registered 11 total shots with 3 on target, yielding an expected goals (xG) of 0.51. In contrast, Verona managed just 8 total shots and a mere 1 shot on target, with an xG of 0.27. Genoa's goalkeeper, Justin Bijlow, made one crucial save.
