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Empoli were left to rue a wasted penalty in their 2-1 home defeat to Genoa, decided by Milan Badelj and Caleb Ekuban goals.

Both sides were coming off defeats and eager to remain relatively mid-table, but also dealing with numerous injuries. The hosts missed Mattia Viti, Pietro Pellegri, Ola Solbakken, Nicolas Haas, Tyronne Ebuehi and Saba Sazonov. The visitors fresh from their first defeat under Patrick Vieira were without Mario Balotelli, Alan Matturro, Junior Messias, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Honest Ahanor.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Emmanuel Gyasi ran onto a ball over the top and went around the goalkeeper to hit the side-netting after 65 seconds, but he was offside.

Liam Henderson scuffed the finish wide from a promising position, while Ardian Ismajli made an astonishing inch-perfect sliding tackle to stop Alessandro Zanoli shooting from eight yards.

At the other end, Stefano Turati had his gloves stung by Tino Anjorin, but Genoa had another injury setback when losing Brook Norton-Cuffy to a thigh issue.

Liberato Cacace was sent down the left by Henderson just before half-time and his powerful strike was palmed onto the upright by Nicola Leali.

Genoa took the lead within 30 seconds of the restart, as Vitinha robbed Goglichidze inside the penalty area, the Andrea Pinamonti attempt was charged down, but Milan Badelj pounced to score from six yards.

Empoli received a penalty following the VAR review for the mis-timed Johan Vasquez sliding tackle on Sebastiano Esposito, who had already rolled across for Lorenzo Colombo. Esposito stepped up, but Leali palmed the spot-kick onto the upright.

EMPOLI, ITALY - DECEMBER 28: Liberato Cacace of Empoli FC in action against Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Genoa CFC during the Serie A match between Empoli and Genoa at Stadio Carlo Castellani on December 28, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
EMPOLI, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Liberato Cacace of Empoli FC in action against Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Genoa CFC during the Serie A match between Empoli and Genoa at Stadio Carlo Castellani on December 28, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Colombo’s first touch let him down on a Gyasi assist, while Fabio Miretti blasted inches wide from the edge of the area.

Genoa doubled their lead with two substitutes combining, as Miretti got down the left and rolled across, Caleb Ekuban getting there ahead of Ismajli to tap in from six yards.

Esposito somewhat made up for the earlier penalty by getting Empoli back into the game with his looping header into the far top corner on Anjorin’s assist.

Morten Frendrup threw himself in the path of an Esposito strike and Ismajli made another decisive tackle to stop Vitinha completing a counter-attack, but Empoli could not turn it around.

Empoli 1-2 Genoa

Badelj 46 (G), Ekuban 68 (G), Esposito 74 (E)

Saved penalty: Esposito 54 (E)

Player statistic

2nd half
   46′Milan Badelj
Sebastiano EspositoMissed penalty 54′  
   66′Morten Thorsby
   68′Caleb Ekuban

(Assist: Fabio Miretti)
Sebastiano Esposito

(Assist: Tino Anjorin)
Goal 74′  
   79′Vitinha
Emmanuel GyasiYellow card 81′  

Match statistic

59
Possession %
41
12
Total shots
14
8
Shots on target
5
3
Shots off target
5
1
Blocked shots
4
7
Corners
4
2
Offsides
1
16
Fouls
13

Empoli

Genoa

Starting lineups

23
alt-bl1586513176796
Goalkeeper
34
alt-bl161770168043
13
81′
2
71′
5
alt-bl15644930061279 1
Midfielder
71′
8
alt-bl1731351258230
Midfielder
80′
6
alt-bl1565619391412 1
Midfielder
60′
11
29
1
Goalkeeper
3
alt-bl15596391641796
59
63′
15
39′
22
alt-bl16688616891799
13
alt-bl15620713922063
Defender
47
alt-bl16229959622892
Midfielder
63′
32
Midfielder
2
alt-bl1566409960291
Midfielder
82′
19
alt-bl15622510531722
alt-out new63′
9
Attacker

Substitutes

1
alt-bl15650854301472
Goalkeeper
7
alt-bl1565182127678
Defender
12
Goalkeeper
31
Defender
90
Attacker
37
10
Midfielder
60′
93
Midfielder
71′
22
alt-bl15641463202693 1
71′
35
80′
19
81′
72
Midfielder
11
alt-bl15682977051789
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
39
95
alt-bl15615612572556
30
Attacker
53
Midfielder
21
Attacker
20
alt-bl15656056001759 1
39′
18
alt-bl15681897542103
Attacker
63′
23
Midfielder
63′
73
Midfielder
63′
4
alt-player st
alt-in new82′