Genoa got back on track by dooming an experimental Fiorentina to their second consecutive defeat.

It was crunch time for both Euro contenders, as the Grifone had lost four on the trot in all competition by leaking goals, while the Viola were stunned 1-0 at home by Napoli at the weekend. Emiliano Moretti and Alessio Scarpi were suspended, joining Bosko Jankovic, Domenico Criscito, Houssine Kharja, Fatic and Ivan Juric in the stands. Fiorentina's Cesare Natali, Martin Jorgensen and Mario Alberto Santana missed out.

Last season this fixture ended 3-3 when an Adrian Mutu hat-trick completed the comeback from 3-0 down. Cesare Prandelli introduced the trident attack for the first time to start this game with Stevan Jovetic and Alberto Gilardino. Gian Piero Gasperini sat out a touchline ban.

Giuseppe Sculli's header flashed past the near post with Sebastien Frey rooted to the spot. Fiorentina also threatened when Marco Amelia parried Riccardo Montolivo's strike and Salvatore Bocchetti managed to charge down the follow-up.

Gilardino had timid penalty appeals for a collision with the goalkeeper and Sculli's fierce solo effort from the edge of the box scraped a coat of paint off the upright. Amelia also saved a Gilardino header from Manuel Pasqual's cross.

Frey used his trailing leg to hoof the unmarked Raffaele Palladino's finish off the line from a whipped-in Alberto Zapater free kick, while Hernan Crespo's right-foot shot forced another save.

Genoa broke through with a magnificent goal from Palladino, his first of the season! Sculli thought he had wasted the chance when his first touch let him down, but he chipped over the defence for Palladino to spring the offside trap and flick the ball in off his heel. Palladino had started the move and was not offside, even though Crespo was.

In stoppages Jovetic wanted a penalty when he ran on to a Modesto error, but was rightly booked, as he fell much later than any contact with the Genoa player.

Riccardo Montolivo's fierce free kick cracked against the upright from a good 25 metres. The move continued and Montolivo's cross found Alessandro Gamberini, whose header also hit the post!

The trident experiment was shelved as Marco Marchionni replaced Jovetic and it proved a smart decision. Juan Manuel Vargas threaded through for Pasqual down the left and his pull-back found substitute Marchionni to equalise for Fiorentina.

Giandomenico Mesto restored Genoa's lead when a smart Rodrigo Palacio ball over the top found his well-taken low volley at the back post.

Amelia parried a Dario Dainelli header and a Montolivo blockbuster from distance, ensuring Genoa took home all three points.