Serie A | Parma 2-1 Genoa: Almqvist decisive for relegation battle | OneFootball

Pontus Almqvist came off the bench to give Parma a potentially huge victory in the relegation dogfight, leaving Genoa stranded on one point.

This was already shaping up to be a massive result for the relegation zone, as both teams had just one point after four rounds. The Ducali missed Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Adrian Bernabé, while Lautaro Valenti was dropped over disciplinary reasons. Johan Vasquez sat out a ban for Genoa, with Lorenzo Venturino, Elias Havel and Alex Amorim injured after this week’s Coppa Italia win over Sudtirol.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

PARMA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Daniele De Rossi head coach of Genoa CFC and Carlos Cuesta head coach of Parma Calcio 1913 during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 20, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)

Milutin Osmajic had a shot charged down by Diego Carlos, while Mandela Keita ran a huge risk under pressure from Tommaso Baldanzi in the final third.

Parma took the lead with a great solo goal, as David Romero dribbled away from Leo Ostigard and drilled the low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box while taking on another defender.

PARMA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: José David Romero of Parma Calcio 1913 celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 20, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)

El Bilal Touré wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 before the break, turning a free header off target at the far post from the Emanuele Valeri cross.

Edoardo Corvi parried the Junior Messias free kick, but Genoa equalised when Lorenzo Colombo flicked on the ball to send Osmajic on the counter, beating the on-rushing goalkeeper with a lob from the edge of the area.

PARMA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Milutin Osmajić of Genoa CFC celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 20, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)

However, Parma restored the advantage when Nesta Elphege with his back to goal flicked on the ball to send Pontus Almqvist on the counter, sprinting away from Alessandro Marcandalli to beat Justin Bijlow when off balance. It was his first goal of the season to seal the first Parma victory.

Parma 2-1 Genoa

Romero 38 (P), Osmajic 70 (G), Almqvist 80 (P)