Genoa are not doomed yet, as they snatched a last-gasp victory over increasingly desperate Cagliari thanks to veteran Milan Badelj.
This was a pure relegation dogfight, as the Grifone were joint last on 22 points and the Sardinians hovering just above the drop zone on 28.
Genoa were coming off two consecutive defeats, with Andrea Cambiaso, Nicolò Rovella and Zinho Vanheusden still carrying knocks. Matteo Lovato was suspended for the visitors, with Edoardo Goldaniga and Obert injured.
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Manolo Portanova’s early strike was smothered and Alessio Cragno rushed off his line to close down Caleb Ekuban after a heavy touch.
Giorgio Altare made a decisive interception on Ekuban and Nadiem Amiri’s follow-up flashed just wide, while Joao Pedro saw his effort deflected over.
Cagliari had a huge opportunity straight after the restart, as Joao Pedro’s ferocious strike from the edge of the box cannoned off the base of the near post.
The Sardinians continued to threaten, Keita Balde Diao sprinting forward, forcing a save at the near stick and Razvan Marin firing the rebound inches wide.
Marko Rog could only find the side-netting from a tricky angle after a quick passing move, while Mattia Destro couldn’t redirect a Filippo Melegoni low cross from the left.
The deadlock was finally broken 90 seconds from time, as Melegoni again sparked it down the left, eventually Kalvin Yeboah knocked it back for Milan Badelj to control and drill into the near bottom corner from 12 yards.
Genoa 1-0 Cagliari
Badelj 89 (G)