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Serie A | Lecce 1-2 Genoa: Messias inspiration for strong victory
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- Serie A | Lecce 1-2 Genoa: Messias inspiration for strong victory
Serie A | Lecce 1-2 Genoa: Messias inspiration for strong victory
Genoa notched up a third consecutive victory and this success away to Lecce could prove crucial in the fight to stay in Serie A, as Junior Messias inspired with a goal and assist.
This was a real relegation dogfight , but with very different moods. While the Salentini had started well, they lost four of the last five games going into this weekend, including a 5-1 hammering by Frosinone. Willem Geubbels was injured in the warm-up of that game, so missed out with Lassana Coulibaly, Medon Berisha, Santiago Pierotti, Ivan Ilic and suspended Kialonda Gaspar.
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Genoa on the other hand were revitalised by three wins in the last four, culminating in their 2-0 victory over Juventus on Wednesday . Mikael Ellertsson shook off an ankle injury to start, leaving Cody Drameh, Elias Havel and Lorenzo Venturino on the sidelines.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Daniele De Rossi Genoa CFC head coach during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Genoa CFC at Stadio Via del Mare on November 01, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Samuel Wiafe's early half-volley flashed just wide from the edge of the area for Genoa, and they took the lead when Messias pulled back from the by-line for Milutin Osmajic to turn in first-time from nine yards.
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It should've been 2-0 when Stephan El Shaarawy unmarked turned wide of the far post on another Messias roll across from the right, while Olaf Gorter stung Justin Bijlow's gloves from distance.
Genoa doubled their advantage with a very well-worked team move. El Shaarawy immediately knocked on the Hamed Junior Traoré slide-rule pass to release Junior Messias, who with his first touch managed to dribble around Wladimiro Falcone and score from the tightest of angles, as Tiago Gabriel's goal-line clearance was too late.
ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Milutin Osmajic of Genoa CFC celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Genoa CFC at Stadio Via del Mare on November 01, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
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Lecce got back into it with a bit of luck, as the Youssef Maleh free kick took a big deflection off Osmajic in the Genoa wall, completely wrong-footing the goalkeeper.
That woke the Salentini up and they started to pour forward, getting the ball in the net during first half stoppages. Antonino Gallo got down the left and pulled across for Nikola Stulic to bundle over the line from point-blank range with a ricochet off Bijlow, but it was disallowed because he got the final touch with his arm.
ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Youssef Maleh of US Lecce scores his side first goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Genoa CFC at Stadio Via del Mare on November 01, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
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Bijlow palmed the ferocious Gallo rocket out from under the bar, but Genoa came close to going 3-1 up when the El Shaarawy curler bent around Wladimiro Falcone to bounce off the far post.
Joel Monteiro tested Bijlow at the near stick after squirming away from a tackle at the by-line, but the Lecce striker sustained a calf injury in the process.
ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Joel Monteiro of US Lecce battles for possession with Hamed Traore of Genoa CFC during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Genoa CFC at Stadio Via del Mare on November 01, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Vitinha slipped at the crucial moment to waste another Messias assist, while Amar Fatah had penalty appeals waved away when he went down under a challenge.
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Lecce had a big chance to equalise when the Ngom effort was deflected, forcing a tricky Bijlow save, with Paco Esteban unable to get on the end of the rebound.
Lecce 1-2 Genoa
Osmajic 11 (G), Messias 28 (G), Maleh 40 (L)
