Genoa and Atalanta fight to draw

Stadio Luigi Ferraris was the setting for a power-packed fight between Genoa and Atalanta that ended in a draw. With thirty-two fouls and three red-cards, tempers were short as two clubs fighting for a Europa League bid were not prepared to give up a morsel of ground.

While Genoa controlled over sixty per-cent of the possession and were more efficient with their passing, they lacked the final creative touch in the final third and barely could sting the hands of Atalanta's Ferdinando Coppola. It was peculiar to say the least as Genoa looked ready to break through early as Diego Milito threatened twice before the tenth minute, including a header off the post six minutes in. However seventeen minutes after the start Sergio Floccari produced a highlight clip circumventing defenders and the Genoa 'keeper for a brilliant goal. The run of play slowed on the barely playable pitch and tensions went from simmer to boiling over after the break.

Twelve minutes after the break Gianpaolo Bellini was excused leaving Atalanta a man down. With the advantage Gian Piero Gasperini called upon former Crvena zvezda man Boško Janković who immediately created a multitude of problems for the opposition. However the advantage was short-lived as Omar Milanetto was red-carded a minute past the hour mark. Oddly enough the man advantage returned as Claudio Rivalta embarrassed himself with a hatchet job on Raffaele Palladino, resulting in a red-card at the seventieth minute. With four minutes remaining Genoa found the equalizer as Domenico Criscito's cross was turned-in by Giuseppe Sculli

Genoa heads to beautiful Verona next Sunday to face Chievo before the break over the holiday.