The draw means Genoa could drop into the relegation zone if results go against them this afternoon, with Parma holding onto their 10th spot no matter what occurs later on.
Parma vs Genoa, Final Score 0-0: Disappointing draw as Crociati stall again
Parma’s run without a win has extended to five games with a disappointing goalless draw with relegation strugglers Genoa, in Serie A’s early kick off.
Parma were forced into a change almost immediately after the game had begun. McDonald Mariga -- making his first start since arriving from Inter -- picked up a knock going into a tackle, and after failing to run it off was replaced by Sotiris Ninis seven minutes in.
The Greek playmaker had a shot on goal straight after his introduction, though his long range effort deflected behind off a defender.
It took until after ten minutes before a goalkeeper was tested for the first time. It was Parma's Nicola Pavarini, who made a good save to his left, after Andrea Bertolacci leapt above defender Alessandro Lucarelli to powerfully meet Eros Pisano's cross from the right.
The game never seemed to settle into a rhythm in the first half, and if it did, it was an extremely staccato one. Parma gradually began to assert more pressure on the grifone after an uninspiring start, and after a mazy run Jonathan Biabiany almost threaded in Ishak Belfodil for a goal, though the Algerian striker was tackled at the crucial moment.
Just short of 20 minutes in Amauri -- and no, I’m not making this up -- ran the length of the Genoa half to fire a shot on Sébastien Frey, though his effort was straight at the ex-Parma goalkeeper -- that’s more like the Amauri we know and don’t love.
Just over five minutes before the break Belfodil glanced Biabiany's cross from the right just wide, before the best chance of the half fell in the final minute of stoppage time. Marco Borriello -- after his recent good form -- reverted to type, slashing a shot over the bar from point-blank range.
Genoa started the second half brightly, and Bertolacci smashed an effort from the edge of the area against the post moments after the restart, before Marco Rigoni lashed wide from the edge of the area.
Rigoni had the best chance of the match just short of the hour, when a deflected Bertolacci shot hit the post again, falling kindly for him right in front of goal. Despite it being easier to score, Pavarini made a miraculous one-handed save to keep the ball out.
Parma hit back, with Marco Parolo's looping effort from the edge of the area going wide. Minutes later Amauri brought the ball down in the box for the crociati's best chance of the match, though it was well saved by Frey. Belfodil glanced a free-kick narrowly wide of goal after a flick on by Marco Parolo, but there were still no signs of a goal.
Inside the final ten minutes Biabiany’s effort from the edge of the area was deflected agonisingly wide, telling the story of the game for both sides. Despite creating chances, and despite Parma’s increased pressure towards the end of the match, they couldn’t break through.
Parma (3-5-2): Nicola Pavarini; Alessandro Lucarelli, Gabriel Paletta, Yohan Benalouane (Andrea Coda 61); Massimo Gobbi (Djamel Mesbah 78), Marco Parolo, Jaime Valdés, McDonald Mariga (Sotiris Ninis 7), Jonathan Biabiany; Ishak Belfodil, Amauri
Genoa (3-4-2-1): Sébastien Frey; Thomas Manfredini, Andreas Granqvist, Daniele Portanova; Luca Antonelli, Matuzalém, Juraj Kucka, Eros Pisano; Marco Rigoni (Juan Manuel Vargas 67), Andrea Bertolacci (Ruben Olivera 88); Marco Borriello (Ciro Immobile 85)
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