Juventus Struggle at Marassi as Kalulu's Mistake Costs Against Genoa

Juventus Falter Against Genoa with a 2-0 Defeat

At the Luigi Ferraris stadium, Juventus held most of the possession but failed to find the decisive edge as Genoa struck twice within the first half-hour. This loss ended Juventus’ streak of five consecutive Serie A clean sheets against Genoa.

The opening goal came early, with Kingsley Ehizibue’s shot deflecting off Andrea Cambiaso into the net. Then, on 28 minutes, Tommaso Baldanzi doubled Genoa’s lead after Pierre Kalulu could not clear the ball under pressure from Vitinha. Despite holding 63% possession and an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.28, Juventus managed only four shots on target out of 17 attempts, failing to break down Genoa’s disciplined defense.

After halftime, Luciano Spalletti’s substitutions added urgency. Teun Koopmeiners nearly pulled one back in stoppage time when his shot hit the crossbar, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat. Juventus now sit eighth in the league with 14 points.

Player Ratings from the Match

• Guglielmo Vicario (5/10): Faced only two shots on target but conceded both. Unlucky with the deflected opener and caught out for the second goal. Early confusion with Federico Gatti over a backpass didn’t help.
• Jhon Lucumí (6/10): Reliable on the left side of the three-man defense. Pushed forward late and forced a critical save from Genoa’s goalkeeper.
• Bremer (7/10): The captain made a vital block to prevent further damage. Also created aerial threats on set pieces but avoided a booking despite a foul on Vitinha.
• Federico Gatti (5/10): Had a shaky start, including a risky moment with Vicario. Headed wide from a Kalulu cross before being substituted at halftime.

• Pierre Kalulu (5/10): His error led directly to Genoa’s second goal. Later wasted a great chance from close range. Showed attacking effort but those moments defined his night.
• Douglas Luiz (6/10): Controlled much of the ball as Juventus pressed. Created chances but played too cautiously at times. Substituted in the 77th minute.
• Pape Sarr (6/10): Worked hard early and delivered a dangerous cross but faded as the match went on.
• Andrea Cambiaso (6/10): Unfortunate to score an own goal via deflection. Provided key passes early before being replaced midway through the second half.
• Weston McKennie (7/10): Orchestrated Juventus’ best moves, setting up multiple chances for teammates.
• Kerim Alajbegovic (6/10): Given a start, he was active in shooting but lost possession leading to a dangerous Genoa counterattack.

• Randal Kolo Muani (5/10): Struggled to make an impact with limited touches and missed a good opportunity.

• Edon Zhegrova (7/10): Injected energy after coming on, creating chances and winning a booking for a tactical foul.
• Nick Woltemade (6/10): Brought physical presence upfront but couldn’t convert chances.
• Juan Cabal (6/10): Replaced Cambiaso and offered better natural width but was quiet in attack.
• Jérémie Boga (6/10): Grew into the game late and contributed with a blocked shot and a key cross.
• Teun Koopmeiners (6/10): Came on late and nearly scored with a free-kick effort that hit the bar in stoppage time.
• Luciano Spalletti (4/10): The team appeared unready for Genoa’s fast breaks early on. Although changes improved the pace after the break, no clear solution emerged to unlock the deep defense.