Genoa draws level with Empoli after away win
Genoa recovered from defeat last time out to draw level on points with Empoli in Serie A with a 2-1 win at Carlo Castellani Stadium.
After an evenly contested and goalless first period, Genoa went ahead a minute after the restart through Milan Badelj, who fired home as Empoli failed to clear its lines.
But the hosts should have levelled less than 10 minutes later when they were was awarded a penalty after a VAR review, but Sebastiano Esposito saw his spot-kick pushed on to the post by Nicola Leali, and the visiting goalkeeper was able to gather the rebound.
Caleb Ekuban rubbed salt into the wound when he bundled home on 68 minutes to give Genoa breathing space, but Empoli wasn't done quite yet.
Esposito atoned for his penalty miss when he rose highest to guide a fine header past Leali with 16 minutes remaining, but despite the lift his goal provided for the hosts, they were unable to mount a complete comeback and finished with another disappoining defeat, its fourth in the past five matches.
Both sides are now locked on 19 points, with Empoli in 12th and Genoa 13th, as Patrick Vieira's influence on Genoa continues to be positive, the coach having now taken nine points from his six games in charge to move his side comfortably clear of the drop zone.
