AC Milan travelled to Genoa in the early kick-off from the Serie A 6th round Sunday matches, with the Rossoneri looking to make it three wins in a row, while the home side needed to build on a solitary win in what has been a very poor start to the season.
It was in-fact the hosts, who took all three points from the intriguing encounter - courtesy of a free-kick effort from Dzemaili in the opening exchanges of the first-half.
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Mario Balotelli got the start ahead of Carlos Bacca, while Bertolacci slotted back into the side after an injury had kept him out of the last three matches. Giacomo Bonaventura was in the Trequartista position.
For Genoa, Diego Perotti came back into the side in place of Goran Pandev, while Blerim Dzemaili started over Panagiotis Tachtsidis. The back three deployed was Sebastian De Maio, Nicolás Burdisso and Giovanni Marchese.
Early chances aplenty
Diego Capel almost broke the deadlock inside five minutes with the first real opportunity of the game. A clever free-kick routine resulted in a lay-off to Capel, whose effort flashed narrowly wide of the right post. After that early warning sign, it was another set-piece which culminated with the opening goal.
In the 10th minute, Dzemaili struck a low shot through the wall that deflected off Bonaventura and beat Diego Lopez, marking the perfect start for the hosts and a 1-0 lead.
Milan eager for a positive response
Having conceded early on in the game, Milan were hoping to respond positively and find an equaliser. They almost found it, through a powerful effort by Andrea Bertolacci after an enterprising run from Balotelli swerved narrowly over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Cristián Zapata made an important interception to deny Diego Perotti as he advanced goalwards with an easy opportunity to get a shot away. There was a moment of panic for the hosts, ten minutes before the break - as Balotelli found space in the area to shoot following a free-kick that was poorly dealt with, but the danger was averted through a solid block to safety.
Moments later, Balotelli rose highest to glance a header towards the far left corner, however it narrowly evaded the post and drifted away from goal. Genoa had another threatening set-piece in the 40th minute after Zapata committed a foul. Mario Balotelli - who was an ever present figure in the first 45 - rose out of the wall to head clear.
Romagnoli caps off frustrating half for visitors
A major incident occurred in the 42nd minute as Alessio Romagnoli was shown a second yellow card following a poor Zapata pass that put him under pressure.
It capped off a poor first half for Milan, but questions had to be asked of referee Paolo Tagliavento, who had made some very inconsistent calls with regards to fouls. It was silly from the young defender though - especially as he'd already been booked.
Nigel de Jong made way for Rodrigo Ely just before the break in what had been a perfect half for a Genoa team low on confidence. Sinisa Mihajlovic had a lot to mull over during the half-time interval, with the red card hardly doing his side any favours in their search for a response to the early goal.
For Gian Piero Gasperini's side, the instruction would have been more of the same. They had limited Milan in the final third and looked a threat going forward every time.
Second-half not short of opportunities
Luiz Adriano had a chance in the opening minutes of the second-half as Balotelli found him in space, however his shot was well saved. A blocked Bertolacci shot from the resulting corner-kick drew penalty appeals, but it would have been a harsh decision upon reflection.
Another shot from the former Genoa midfielder was saved comfortably, when he would have expected to do better. Bertolacci was seeing plenty of the ball, and won his side a dangerous free-kick around 22 yards out after De Maio brought him down.
Balotelli, just days after scoring a magnificent free-kick away at Udinese, couldn't repeat the strike and hit it high and wide.
Super Mario had a chance a minute later as he found space to shoot on the left side of the box, but he drove low and straight at Eugenio Lamanna when he should have done better. Diego Capel shot narrowly over with 15 minutes remaining as Genoa started to take a grip on the game with the extra man advantage.
Carlos Bacca was finally introduced in the 80th minute, hoping to add to his three goals already this campaign.
Juraj Kucka had a great chance to make it 1-1 with just over three minutes of normal time remaining. The former Genoa man had the ball in space with the goal gaping, but he miscued his shot over the bar much to the relief of the raucous home crowd. Rodrigo Ely missed a 96th minute header from a free-kick and the final whistle sounded.
The game finished with a 1-0 scoreline in favour of the home side, ending a run of three straight defeats. A vital three points for the Rossoblu who gained just their second set of points from a game this season. The sending off proved to be crucial, and Milan are left to pick up the pieces after another defeat.
