Genoa’s third straight win, Lecce’s third straight loss
Genoa secured its third straight victory, defeating Lecce 2-1 on the road and climbing to 13 points in the standings. Meanwhile, Lecce’s rough patch continues, as they suffered their third consecutive loss and remain stuck at 9 points. The relegation battle heated up from the opening minutes, with the hosts playing aggressively but punished by the Rossoblù’s greater efficiency, as Genoa took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Milutin Osmaji and Messias. Lecce fought back and cut the deficit with a free kick by Maleh, before having a potential equalizer disallowed in the 47th minute due to a handball.
In the second half, chances were plentiful but few were converted: El Shaarawy struck the outside of the post with a powerful right-footed shot from distance, while in the closing minutes, Esteban squandered a golden opportunity to make it 2-2, failing to tap in a rebound from Bijlow into an empty net. Genoa held on without much trouble in the final minutes and took home three precious points, leaving Lecce to deal with yet another setback.
The victory at Via del Mare caps an excellent run for Daniele De Rossi’s team, which has won three of its last four league matches—as many wins as it had managed in the previous 15 matchdays. Genoa had kicked off the streak on Sunday, October 25, with a 1-0 victory over Venezia at Marassi, in a crucial relegation battle decided by a spectacular goal from Ellertsson. On Wednesday, October 28, the Rossoblù then defeated Spalletti’s Juventus 2-0, with goals from Ehizibue—off a deflection by Cambiaso—and Baldanzi, who capitalized on a serious mistake by Kalulu. The win in Lecce marks their third consecutive victory, a feat Genoa hadn’t achieved since the period between January and February 2021.
For Eusebio Di Francesco’s Lecce, however, the crisis runs deep. Heading into the match, the Salento-based side had lost six of their last eight Serie A games, conceding 19 goals and keeping a clean sheet just once. Their home form was also concerning, with three losses in their first four games at the Via del Mare. The loss to Genoa comes on the heels of a 2-0 defeat to Juventus and a crushing 5-1 loss on Thursday, October 29, on the road against Frosinone—a night also marked by controversy over referee Abisso’s officiating and a penalty not awarded to the Giallorossi.
After the defeat at the “Stirpe,” the Giallorossi fans vented their anger on social media. A significant portion of the supporters called for Di Francesco’s dismissal, while others criticized the team’s roster and the club’s decisions. This latest defeat—the third in a row—risks further fueling discontent surrounding the team and the coach.
