When Genoa C.F. thrashed Monza 2‑0 on January 27, 2025, the win propelled the Genoa side to sixth place in Serie A while the Lombardy club remained stuck at the bottom of the table. The drama unfolded at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris in front of a near‑full crowd of 29,976, under the watchful eye of referee Daniele Doveri. For Genoa, the three points were a lifeline; for Monza, another chapter in a season that feels more like a nightmare than a campaign.
Match Overview
Both teams entered the round with very different narratives. Genoa, sitting on a 6‑8‑8 record and 26 points, had been flirting with the top‑half of the table but needed a statement win to keep European hopes alive. Monza, on the other hand, sat on a dismal 2‑7‑13 tally and only 13 points – a tally that, if not reversed quickly, would most likely end in relegation.
The early minutes were tense. Monza’s Gianluca Caprari saw yellow in the 20th minute, followed by another caution for Georgios Kyriakopoulos nine minutes later. Discipline was clearly not on Monza’s side, and that would become a recurring theme.
Key Moments and Goals
The first real spark came when Genoa were awarded a penalty in the 31st minute. Fans held their breath as Andrea Pinamonti, who has netted six times this season, stepped up. The ball curled over the bar, leaving the score stuck at 0‑0 – a moment that could have turned the tide in Monza’s favour.
The breakthrough arrived in the 61st minute. Koni De Winter received a pinpoint pass from Aarón Martín and slipped the ball past the startled goalkeeper Nicola Leali. "It felt like a dagger to their defence," Genoa’s captain later said. The home side chased the lead, and the cork was finally popped two dozen minutes later.
In the 84th minute, centre‑back Johan Vásquez rose highest on a corner, nodding home the second. The final whistle confirmed a 2‑0 win and a much‑needed morale boost.
Tactical Shifts and Substitutions
Genoa’s manager, Ivan Jurić, made a bold change at halftime, pulling Lior Kasa for the speedy Maxwel Cornet. The French winger added width and threatened the flanks, stretching Monza’s already thin back line.
Monza, meanwhile, tried to stem the bleeding by swapping Alessandro Bianco for the booked Joseph Akpa and introducing Dany Mota for Kyriakopoulos. The moves did little to alter the rhythm; Genoa’s midfield, anchored by Morten Frendrup and Morten Thorsby, simply out‑worked them.
Implications for Genoa
Climbing to sixth place is more than a numeric jump – it puts Genoa within striking distance of a Europa League berth, something the club hasn’t achieved since the early 2000s. The win also underscores the growing importance of defensive contributors like Alessandro Vogliacco, who has already chipped in with two goals this campaign.
"We’ve shown we can be decisive against teams fighting for survival," Jurić said post‑match. "Now the challenge is to keep this intensity against the top five." The victory also gave a psychological lift to forward Andrea Pinamonti, who, despite the missed penalty, celebrated his sixth goal of the season just minutes later.
Monza’s Relegation Battle
For Monza, the defeat extends a streak of 13 matches without a win. Their point total of 13 places them nine points adrift of safety, with only five games left. Striker Milan Djuric (four goals) and midfielder Daniel Maldini (three goals) have tried to spark something, but the collective effort has fallen short.
Coach Raffaele Palladino
Genoa’s next clash is against mid‑table rivals Udinese on February 3. A win there could catapult them into the top five, making the race for Europe even tighter. Monza, meanwhile, travel to San Siro to face Inter Milan. It will be a test of character – and perhaps the final chance to turn a disastrous season around. The victory lifts Genoa to sixth in Serie A with 26 points, placing them just two spots away from a Europa League place. A win in their next match could see them break into the top five, securing at least a Europa Conference League berth. Monza’s problems stem from a leaky defence, a lack of discipline – evident in four yellows this match – and an ineffectual attack that has produced only 13 points from 22 games. Injuries to key forwards have also limited their scoring options. Defender Koni De Winter opened the scoring, while centre‑back Johan Vásquez sealed the win. Midfielder Morten Frendrup controlled the tempo, and the impact substitute Maxwel Cornet added pace on the wing. Genoa travel to Udinese on February 3, 2025. A win would keep them in contention for a top‑five finish and bolster the club’s European ambitions. Monza needs to tighten up defensively, reduce disciplinary lapses, and find a reliable goal‑scorer. Winning at least three of their remaining six games, especially against direct rivals, is essential to climb out of the bottom three.
Looking Ahead
Frequently Asked Questions
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The beautiful dance of tactics and hope unfolded under the bright lights of the Ferraris. When Genoa found the net they reminded us that sport is a mirror of life reflecting perseverance. Each pass was a sentence in a larger story spoken without haste. The penalty miss was a quiet pause before the chorus of applause rose. Koni De Winter's goal sang like a well‑timed line in a poem that the fans could hear. The second goal was a sharp punctuation mark at the end of a tense paragraph. Ivan Jurić’s halftime swap added a new rhythm to the composition of the match. Maxwel Cornet’s speed was a vivid metaphor for change in a stagnant narrative. The midfield battle was an undercurrent of subtle tension that few noticed but all felt. Genoa’s climb to sixth place feels like a rising stanza in a longer epic. The Europa League dream is now a tangible stanza waiting to be written. Monza’s struggle remains a tragic refrain that repeats with each missed chance. The crowd’s roar was a chorus that lifted the players beyond ordinary effort. The final whistle was a period that closed one chapter and opened another. In the end the match was more than points it was a lesson on resilience and ambition. The story continues as the season writes itself one game at a time.