High-flying Genoa continue their impressive start to the season by beating AC Milan inflicting the first league defeat for Pippo's men away from home this season. Luca Antonelli's header was the difference between the two sides on the day at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. This was Genoa's first win against Milan in 4 years thus making it their best start to a season since the 1930-31 campaign. The hosts are now unbeaten in two months and are sitting pretty in 3rd place after going nine games unbeaten.

This is how the teams lined up:

Genoa's XI: Perin; Roncaglia, De Maio, Izzo; Bertolacci, Sturaro, Kucka, Antonelli; Iago, Matri, Perotti

AC Milan's XI: Diego Lopez; Bonera, Rami, Mexes, Armero; Montolivo, De Jong, Bonaventura; Honda, Menez, El Shaarawy

Ref: Paolo Tagliavento

Goalscorers: Antonelli, 32 (Genoa)

Milan had the first chance of the game through Jérémy Ménez after 7 minutes. His fine solo run ended with the Frenchman firing his shot straight at Perin for the Italian to catch comfortably. 

Ménez again went on a surging run as he won the ball from Juraj Kucka thus catching him out of possession but his shot once again was gathered by Perin stinging the Italian's palms in the process. As the half went on, Genoa's pressure gradually increased. They were obtaining corner after corner and at the ninth attempt of asking they finally reaped the rewards. The former Milan man, Luca Antonelli took advantage of some woeful defending from Danielle Bonera as the fullback's effort hit the inside post and caught the Spaniard, Diego López by surprise. Yet again Milan conceded from a set-piece, their Achilles heel it seems.

Perin was in some inspired form for Genoa, first catching Mexès simple header, the Frenchman really should have equalized for the visitors, and holding onto Giacomo Bonaventura effort after the Italian international went past a few Genoa defenders after Stephan El Shaarawy's clever flick played him in. Not to mention the earlier efforts he saved from Ménez. Genoa countered from Bonaventura's effort which was saved by Perin, Armero's poor clearance in the box found it's way to Perotti, he was undoubtedly the man of the match but the Argentinians's effort was cleared off the line by Bonera and with that the final action of the first half.

After the interval, Milan pressed better and were much more aggressive in their play but Genoa were still comfortable and were dictating the tempo of the game through Perotti. A first sight of this in the second half was just around the hour mark when the Argentine skipped past Mexès and was cynically brought down by Rami causing havoc every chance he got on the left flank.

The day wasn't just complete negatives for Milan. They welcomed back their skipper, Riccardo Montolivo who made his first start since May after his horrific injury against the Republic of Ireland. They also had Nigel de Jong back after a month out while also on international duty with Holland. Montolivo could only amass a totally of 62 minutes after he was subsequently subbed off for Andrea Poli.

As the game petered on the host were happy to sit back and allow Milan to have the limelight of possession and protect their lead. From one of Genoa's breaks Falque rolled the ball back to the defender Facundo Roncaglia who hit his strike just over the bar. Minutes later Milan could count themselves lucky that they weren't two behind. Izzo played a nice precise whipped ball, in the hope of finding Milan loanee Alessandro Matri but Mexès was on hand to make a crucial slide tackle. The Frenchman could have counted himself lucky to not have been sent off moments later after he reacted to Stefano Sturaro's late challenge on him, Mexès was already booked and looked to be leaning his head forward and tugging Sturaro's shirt in frustration.

The last chance of the game fell to the visitors in the dying embers of the game. Armero's cross was headed down by M'baye Niang (who was only making his 3rd appearance of the season all from the bench) and grazed off Pazzini's head eventually finding it's way to Bonaventura who blazed his effort well over the bar on the half-volley.

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About the author
Daniel Fess
An 18 year old lover of Italian and English football