Serie A | Genoa 1-0 Udinese – Emphatic Zanoli enough for Vieira victory | OneFootball

An emphatic finish from Alessandro Zanoli was enough for Genoa to secure all three points with a 1-0 victory at home against Udinese in Serie A’s Friday night kick-off slot to kick-off an action-packed 31st round of 2024-25 fixtures.

Patrick Vieira and Kosta Runjaic both made a handful of changes to their sides following their respective losses against Juventus and Inter last weekend.

Click here to read more about how the teams lined up.

Morten Thorsby of Genoa is challenged by Rui Modesto of Udinese during the Serie A match between Genoa and Udinese at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 04, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Morten Thorsby threatened for the hosts early on with a header destined for the corner of the net, but Maduka Okoye got across his line well to make the save. Andrea Pinamonti also drew a save from the Udinese ‘keeper shortly afterwards.

Andrea Pinamonti had a glorious opportunity to put Genoa ahead just after the half-hour mark: Morten Thorsby’s cross was perfectly placed, Pinamonti rose highest, headed downwards, but did not get the required connection on the ball, which took some of the sting out of his header and helped Okoye make the save.

Lucca had the ball in the back of the net in the 37th minute. Jaka Bijol bypassed the entire Genoa team with a fine ball over the top for Lucca to chase. The towering Italy international brought it down and finished, but was adjudged to have fouled Koni De Winter in the process.

Iker Bravo of Udinese is challenged by Morten Frendrup and Stefano Sabelli of Genoa during the Serie A match between Genoa and Udinese at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 04, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

It took 73 minutes for Udinese to register their first legal shot on target, which was also the first from either side in the second half.

Kingsley Ehizibue provided the cross in from the right flank, from which substitute Rui Modesto powered a header towards the roof of the net, requiring an acrobatic save from Nicola Leali.

Responding to Udinese’s warning, Genoa got themselves ahead just a few minutes later. Caleb Ekuban got down the left flank, looked to hit the byline and send in a low cross, but it was deflected off BIjol, which took it past the defenders in the middle and to the feet of Zanoli at the far post, who slammed an emphatic finish into the roof of the net for 1-0.

Ekuban almost got one for himself 10 minutes before time, drawing a save from Okoye, who did well to prevent Thorsby from close range on the follow-up.

Pinamonti appeared to be rushing through one-on-one in injury-time, but he was ultimately offside. The players were not aware at the time though, and Rui Modesto pulled off a fantastic last-ditch tackle to stop him in his tracks, not that the goal would have counted had it gone in.

In what was an eventful substitutes’ performance from Rui Modesto, he wheeled away celebrating what he thought was the late, late equaliser.

Oumar Solet’s long ball over the top was met by the head of Lucca, who knocked it into the Portuguese’s path, but a lengthy VAR check ruled that Lucca was an arm’s length offside. 1-0 it remained.

Genoa 1-0 Udinese

Zanoli (G) 77’.