Serie A | Empoli 0-0 Genoa: Spence almost opens account

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated 2/3/24

Empoli extended their unbeaten run to three games, as while they hit the woodwork, Genoa winger Djed Spence was denied by a goal-line clearance.

The hosts were revitalised by new coach Davide Nicola, earning a 3-0 win over Monza and 1-1 draw away to 10-man Juventus, but sold Tommaso Baldanzi to Roma on deadline day, bringing in M’Baye Niang. Simone Bastoni and Tyronne Ebuehi were out of action, while the Grifone missed Junior Messias, Ridgeciano Haps and Alan Matturro. New signings Vitinha and Giorgio Cittadini were on the bench, but coach Alberto Gilardino sat out a touchline ban.

Niccoló Cambiaghi nutmegged Koni De Winter to then hit the side-netting, while Stefano Sabelli had the ball in the net for Genoa on 26 minutes, but was offside on the corner.

Empoli were unlucky after the restart, as Cambiaghi saw his toe-poke deflected onto the base of the upright from 10 yards.

Mattia Destro just failed to get the necessary flick on to a Liberato Cacace free kick.

Vitinha made his Genoa debut for the final stages, but Djed Spence almost gave his team the lead when his floating header on an Aaron Martin cross from the left beat the goalkeeper, only to be cleared off the line by Sebastiano Luperto.

Destro managed to get an audacious aerial back-heel flick on target, but straight at Josep Martinez.

In the final minute, Albert Gudmundsson saw his low drive fingertipped inches past the far post by Elia Caprile.

Koni De Winter received his second yellow card in stoppages for a foul on Jacopo Fazzini and reduced Genoa to 10 men.

Empoli 0-0 Genoa

Sent off: De Winter 92 (G)

03-02-2024 14:00 MatchDay 23 Stadio Comunale Carlo Castellani

Empoli

Genoa 0 - 0

Player statistic

2nd half

Sebastian Walukiewicz	53'
	66'	Koni De Winter
	73'	Stefano Sabelli
Nicolò Cambiaghi

75' 90+2'

Koni De Winter

Match statistic

48 Possession % 52 15 Total shots 10 4 Shots on target 2 4 Shots off target 4 7 Blocked shots 4 6 Corners 6 2 Offsides 2 11 Fouls 12 Empoli Genoa

Starting lineups

Elia Caprile Goalkeeper 34

Ardian Ismajli Defender 19

Bartosz Bereszynski Defender 54' 4

Sebastian Walukiewicz Defender 33

Sebastiano Luperto Defender 5

Alberto Grassi Midfielder 71' 27

Szymon Zurkowski Midfielder 71' 29 Youssef Maleh Midfielder 17

Alberto Cerri Attacker 54' 11 Emmanuel Gyasi Attacker 28

Nicolò Cambiaghi Attacker 85' 1 Josep Martínez Goalkeeper 90 Djed Spence Defender 22

Johan Vásquez Defender 4 Koni De Winter Defender 13

Mattia Bani Defender 20

Stefano Sabelli Defender 77' 47

Milan Badelj Midfielder 32 Morten Frendrup Midfielder 17

Ruslan Malinovskyi Midfielder 46' 11

Albert Gudmundsson Attacker 19 Mateo Retegui Attacker

77'

Substitutes

Etrit Berisha Goalkeeper 3

Giuseppe Pezzella Defender 1

Samuele Perisan Goalkeeper

M’Baye Niang Attacker 7 Stiven Shpendi Attacker 2 Saba Goglichidze Defender 13 Liberato Cacace Defender 54' 20 Matteo Cancellieri Attacker 54' 23

Mattia Destro Attacker 71' 8

Viktor Kovalenko Midfielder 71' 21 Jacopo Fazzini Midfielder 85' 2

Morten Thorsby Midfielder 8

Kevin Strootman Midfielder 23 Giorgio Cittadini Defender 5 Emil Bohinen Midfielder 14 Alessandro Vogliacco Defender 39 Daniele Sommariva Goalkeeper 16 Nicola Leali Goalkeeper 48 Léandre Kuavita Midfielder 53 Tommaso Pittino Defender 18

Caleb Ekuban Attacker 46' 9

Vitinha Attacker 77' 3

Aarón Martín Defender

77'

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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