Genoa celebrated guaranteeing their Serie A safety with a thumping victory over Cagliari, as Morten Thorsby, Morten Frendrup and Albert Gudmundsson completed the rout.
This was a head-to-head between two teams who were promoted from Serie B last summer. Vitinha was back in the squad for the hosts, but Ruslan Malinovskyi, Junior Messias, Mattia Bani and Alan Matturro were still out of action. Zito Luvumbo sat out a ban for the Sardinians, with Nicolas Viola, Alberto Dossena, Leonardo Pavoletti and Marco Mancosu injured. Jakub Jankto was a late addition to the absentee list with a sprained ankle and Yerry Mina only fit for the bench.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Koni De Winter nodded a corner wide, but Morten Thorsby got his on target by steering a Stefano Sabelli cross from the right into the bottom corner of the net.
What a header that is 💥
Morten Thorsby puts Genoa ahead with this outrageous effort 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/yQHWmxswxI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 29, 2024
The second was a well-worked move, as Johan Vasquez got down the left and rolled across for Morten Frendrup to take it first-time into the top corner with the inside of the right boot.
Genoa are FLYING ✈️
Morten Frendrup with one of the most satisfying finishes you'll see 😮💨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/Q0zYfpbQ3o
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 29, 2024
Mateo Retegui skimmed the woodwork from a tricky angle, while Cagliari went close from a corner flicked just wide by Alessandro Deiola.
Thorsby almost added a third after the restart, but this time his header was palmed off the line by Simone Scuffet, while De Winter skimmed the upright on an Albert Gudmundsson free kick.
Genoa did go 3-0 up when Gudmundsson completed a give and go with Frendrup, despite Adam Obert’s attempt to intercept, and beat Scuffet clear through the centre.
Paulo Azzi drilled across the face of goal on Gianluca Lapadula’s knockdown, while Kingston Mutandwa hit the side-netting. Vitinha blasted over for Genoa and was twice denied by Scuffet saves late on, above all using a foot on the volley at the near post.
Cagliari remain only three points clear of the relegation zone with four rounds left to play.
Genoa 3-0 Cagliari
Thorsby 17 (G), Frendrup 27 (G), Gudmundsson 63 (G)
Player statistic
| Morten Thorsby (Assist: Stefano Sabelli) |
 |
17' | ||
| Morten Frendrup (Assist: Johan Vásquez) |
|
27' |
| 58' |  |
Eldor Shomurodov | ||
| Albert Gudmundsson (Assist: Morten Frendrup) |
|
63' | ||
| 72' | |
Tommaso Augello |
Match statistic
Atmosphere to match any stadium anywhere. Wonderful Genoa display. I hope they’ll be able to keep their best players and push on. Serie A needs a strong Genoa.