The balance of the 35 previous home matches against Cagliari (of which 34 at Ferraris and one at the neutral site of Brescia, 23 in A and 12 in B) is decidedly in favor of Genoa: there are 19 victories for the Grifone, 11 draws and 5 Sardinian victories, the goals tally is 62-36. At Serie A level the balance is 12 victories for Genoa, 8 draws and 3 victories for Cagliari, 39-23 goals. There is also a precedent in the Italian Cup (Cagliari’s 4-1 victory on 27 October 1999).
The last comparison is dated 7 October 2022 (8th matchday of Serie B): Blessin’s Genoa in the running for direct promotion tries in every way to undermine the wall erected by Ranieri but, despite dozens of chances and a post from Gudmunsson, the Sardinians manage to bring home a precious 0-0.
Things had gone better in‘latest by A played on 24 April 2022 (34th matchday). Blessin’s Genoa, last with Venezia at 22 points, is playing their last chance to get closer to fourth-last Cagliari with a 6-point advantage. Tough and edgy match that was resolved in the melee by Badelj in the 89th minute. 1-0 final and Grifone finds hope of salvation again.
Identical result also in the previous season (24 January 2021, 19th matchday, played behind closed doors due to the Covid emergency): another victory for Ballardini’s Genoa who, thanks to a goal from Destro in the 10th minute after a good team action, defeated the Sardinians in deep crisis and with Di Francesco on the verge of dismissal. A somewhat false 1-0 because Genoa missed at least three clear opportunities to double the lead and because Cagliari had just as many to equalize.
Another 1-0 also on 9 February 2020 (23rd matchday). Nicola’s Genoa, fresh from the draw in Bergamo, faced Cagliari at Marassi and defeated them by playing well thanks to a mocking cross-shot by Pandev in the 43rd minute which went into the bottom corner to the right of goalkeeper Cragno. In the second half Genoa came close to doubling their lead and only risked it in injury time with a crossbar hit by Nainggolan.
A difficult draw instead it was that of 18 May 2019 (penultimate day of the championship): on Saturday at 6pm Prandelli’s Genoa, fresh from the defeat in Bergamo, absolutely must win to avoid the dramatic overtaking of Empoli who the following day face the demotivated Turin. Cagliari, on the other hand, only needs one point to achieve mathematical salvation. Genoa created several opportunities but it was the guests who went through with Pavoletti’s classic goal in the 40th minute. In the second half the Grifone didn’t sting and Radu avoided the 0-2, but in the 90th minute he benefited from a penalty for a dirty handball from a defender in the area. Criscito scores the final 1-1, keeping the hopes of salvation alive.
Victory, however, was on 3 April 2018 (recovery from the 27th matchday not played due to the death of Davide Astori): 2-1 for Ballardini’s Genoa who obtained 3 important points in the key to survival. All the goals in the second half (in the first half VAR takes away a penalty from Genoa): Lapadula unlocks the match in the 53rd minute, Barella equalizes from a penalty in the 62nd minute, Medeiros seals the final 2-1 with a great goal at the end.
On 21 August 2016 on the first day of the championship, which marked Ivan Juric’s debut on the Genoa bench, a clear victory in terms of score (3-1) but quite difficult. After a first half dotted with unsuccessful attacks, Cagliari took the lead through former Borriello in the 66th minute. The Sardinians hit the post with Sau but in the following action they conceded the equalizer thanks to a great shot from distance by Ntcham in the 78th minute. At that point, Genoa was on top: Laxalt overturned the result a minute later and Rigoni closed the score in the 88th minute for the final 3-1.
It was also a victory on 11 April 2015, the 30th matchday: 2-0 for Genoa led by Gasperini and heading towards the sixth place finish. Niang and Iago Falque in six minutes at the start of the second half (52′ and 58′) liquidate the practice and destroy the Sardinians who will be relegated at the end of the season. Not an easy victory because in the first half Zeman’s men hit three posts.
Last in B. It dates back to May 22, 2004 (43rd day). De Canio’s Genoa finds the points for survival by overwhelming Reja’s Cagliari heading towards promotion. The final result is 4-2 for the Grifone: hat-trick from Milito and Bjelanovic and goals from Suazo and Esposito for the guests.
A curiosity concerns the draw. Before that of 2018, the last one ever in Genoa actually dated back to 26 May 2002, the penultimate day of a very disappointing cadet championship for both teams who finished tied on 47 points with a margin of two points over the relegation zone. Genoa, led by Onofri, broke the deadlock on a penalty in the 7th minute with Carparelli. A minute passed and Suazo equalized for the Sardinians. The Romanian Mihalcea put Grifone back ahead in the 21st minute but before the break Daniele Conti made it 2-2. In the second half Genoa took the lead again in the 82nd minute with Francioso and again joined by Negri in the 87th minute for the final 3-3.
The last draw in Serie A it even dated back to 15 April 1995 (27th matchday). That day Maselli’s Genoa was in the midst of a battle for salvation and a victory against Tabarez’s Cagliari, calm and in mid-table, would have been useful. After a few attempts by Grifone, as often happens, it was the guests who took the lead with Dely Valdes in the 63rd minute. Fortunately, the usual Skuhravy took care of putting things right in the 75th minute with a nice turn in the penalty area. At the end of the season Genoa in Serie B after the “cursed” play-off with Padova and Cagliari in ninth place.
The latest Sardinian success dates back to 19 April 2014, 34th matchday: 2-1 despite the initial advantage for Genoa achieved by De Maio after just 3 minutes. Sau’s equalizer in the 37th minute and Ibarbo’s goal 8 minutes from the end sealed the precious success in terms of salvation for the Sardinians, confirming Genoa’s crisis, now in a quiet position in the middle of the table, with their fourth consecutive defeat.
The second recent success of Cagliari is the 1-0 on 3 April 2011 with a (controversial) goal by former player Robert Acquafresca in the 16th minute of the first half. The Sardinians hadn’t won in Genoa in Serie A since the 3-2 on 8 November 1992: Padovano and Panucci for Genoa; Napoli, Pusceddu and Oliveira for Cagliari.
In the 2012-2013 season the match was played on the first day of the championship and ended 2-0 for Genoa coached by De Canio thanks to the goals scored in the second half by Merkel (the only goal in the rossoblù shirt) and Immobile. In the first half Jorquera missed a penalty.
Genoa’s other recent victories were: the 2-0 of 7 October 2007 (Borriello and Di Vaio), the 2-1 of 29 October 2008 (Papastathopoulos and Thiago Motta for Genoa, Bianco for Cagliari), the pyrotechnic 5-3 of 14 March 2010 (three posts by Genoa and then Dessena in the 17th minute for Cagliari, equalizer and overtaking with Zapater on a penalty in the 36th minute and Palacio in the 39th minute, away equalizer by Conti in the 41st minute, two more goals for Genoa with Sculli in the 43rd minute and Marco Rossi in the 45′, 4-3 with Matri on a penalty in the 55th minute and final 5-3 with Milanetto in the 59th minute CLICK HERE TO SEE THE IMAGES), the very important 2-1 of 2 May 2012 played in Brescia due to the disqualification of Ferraris for the events of Genoa-Siena (Palacio in the 12th minute, immediate equalizer by Ariaudo in the 13th minute and a fundamental goal for salvation by Jankovic from a free kick at 76′).
We also remember some less recent victories: the 3-0 of 17 October 1982 (Briaschi in the 14th minute, an own goal by Lamagni in the 25th minute and Corti in the 87th minute), the 4-1 in Serie B on 9 February 1986 (doubles by Marulla and Mauti and guest goal by Bernardini in the final), the 2-0 in Serie B on the following 14th December (Scanziani in the 15th minute and Cipriani’s penalty in the 60th minute).
The first official match played in Genoa between the two teams dates back to 7 October 1934 in Serie B, group A. The then autarchic Genova 1893, newly relegated from Serie A, wants to immediately climb back up and, after having beaten Legnano on the first day (2-0), repeats with the same score as Ferraris with the islanders thanks to the double in the 29th and 68th minutes by Libero Marchini. In the end, Genoa will win the championship with 42 points and return to the top flight, while Cagliari will end the season in ninth place with 30 points.
In the end, the first match in Serie A it is dated 3 January 1965: 1-1 in five minutes, first against Gigi Riva from Cagliari in the 52nd minute and then against Zigoni from Genoa in the 57th minute. The first challenge in B it dates back to 7 October 1934 (2nd matchday): 2-0 for Genoa (a brace from Libero Marchini in the 29th and 69th minutes) with Grifone promoted to Serie A at the end of the championship after just one season and Cagliari relegated to Serie C and then financially bankrupt.
Francesco Patrone
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