Genoa beat Juventus 2-0 at Marassi as Spalletti's position comes under strain

A first half that settled the game

Genoa beat Juventus 2-0 at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, known as Marassi, on 28 October, handing Juventus their third league defeat of the season. Both goals came before half-time, while Genoa controlled the early tempo and pressed at high intensity. Ehizibue opened the scoring in the 12th minute, finishing a move that began with a cross from Baldanzi, and his shot was diverted by Cambiaso past goalkeeper Vicario. Baldanzi doubled the lead in the 29th minute, collecting the rebound after a first attempt by Vitinha, following a mistake by Kalulu that began with a Genoa clearance after a Juventus corner. Coach Luciano Spalletti's side struggled to answer that spell, and Daniele De Rossi's team went into the break two goals up.

Juventus chances after the break

Spalletti made two changes at half-time, bringing on Woltemade for Alajbegovic and Zhegrova for Gatti, but Juventus could not alter the course of the match. McKennie played a through ball for Kolo Muani in the 53rd minute, but the forward failed to control it and Genoa's defence recovered possession. Genoa still threatened, with a header from Marcandalli in the 62nd minute narrowly missing and Bremer heading wide from a corner in the 66th minute. Zhegrova drove a left-footed shot towards the near post in the 76th minute, which goalkeeper Bijlow held. Late on, a shot from Koopmeiners struck the crossbar, the closest Juventus came to a goal in the closing stages.

Referee decisions under review

The match was refereed by Doveri, and the moviola review of key moments in the match examined two episodes. In the 13th minute, the referee judged that Gatti had fouled Osmajic, but he did not show a yellow card because the challenge came on a contested ball following a restart that the referee had stopped. In the 24th minute, Lucumì and Osmajic held each other's shirts on the right flank, and no whistle followed. Neither episode changed the score, but both fed the debate over Juventus's control of the flanks and their discipline in the middle third.

Table position and what follows

Juventus remain on 14 points after the defeat, while Genoa rose to 10 points, their third win in four league matches. Genoa's victory was their second in succession, following their win over Venice. Juventus lost to Lazio in one of their last three league games, which makes this their second defeat in that short run. The same review placed Juventus 11 points from the top of the table. Fanpage reports that Spalletti's position is now at serious risk, and Italian coverage describes the league match on Sunday, 1 November as a decisive turning point for the season.

Juventus14

Genoa10

Juventus

14 points

Genoa

10 points

Data from the article text