Football

Mario Balotelli, the former Italy international striker, has found a new home at Genoa, a Serie A club struggling with injuries. Genoa, currently languishing in 18th place, has signed Balotelli until the end of the season to bolster their depleted attacking options.Balotelli, now 34, was once a rising star in Italian football, showcasing his prowess at Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan, and Liverpool. However, his career has been marked by both on-field brilliance and off-field controversies.Despite his past, Genoa has taken a gamble on Balotelli, hoping to reignite his spark and help them escape the relegation zone. The club has been plagued by injuries, with seven players currently sidelined, including forwards Junior Messias, Vitinha, and Caleb Ekuban.Balotelli's arrival brings a wealth of experience to Genoa. He has played a pivotal role in three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and the 2010 Champions League triumph under Jose Mourinho. He also starred for Italy at Euro 2012, helping them reach the final.However, Balotelli has also faced his share of challenges. He has been the target of racist abuse in Italy, and his off-field antics have often overshadowed his on-field achievements.Despite these setbacks, Balotelli remains a talented striker with a proven track record. Genoa will be hoping that he can rediscover his form and help them avoid relegation. He is expected to make his debut against Fiorentina on Thursday.

Genoa's late heroics denied Roma their first Serie A victory of the season, as the hosts snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw in the dying seconds at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.Roma had taken the lead through Artem Dovbyk's 37th-minute strike, but Koni De Winter's towering header in the sixth minute of added time rescued a point for Genoa. The result leaves Roma languishing in 15th place with just two points from their opening three matches, while Genoa climb to ninth with five points.Genoa's resilience has been a hallmark of their impressive start to the campaign. After stunning champions Inter Milan in their opening fixture, they have now earned another late home draw, this time against a Roma side that had been expected to challenge for a top-four finish.Roma's frustration was evident as they failed to capitalize on their early dominance. Dovbyk's goal had given them a deserved lead, but they were unable to build on their advantage and were ultimately punished for their profligacy.Genoa, on the other hand, showed great character to fight back from a goal down. They never gave up hope and were rewarded for their persistence when De Winter rose highest to meet a cross and send the home crowd into raptures.The draw leaves Roma with plenty to ponder ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Atalanta and Udinese. Genoa, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their positive start and will be looking to continue their impressive form when they travel to Empoli next weekend.

Serie A leaders Inter Milan extended their commanding lead at the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Genoa on Monday. The win moved Inter 15 points clear of second-placed Juventus, who suffered a setback in their title chase with a defeat at Napoli on Sunday.Inter's triumph was built on a solid first-half performance, with youngster Kristjan Asllani and veteran Alexis Sanchez finding the net within six minutes of each other. Asllani broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a stunning strike into the top corner, while Sanchez doubled the advantage from the penalty spot six minutes later.Genoa showed resilience in the second half and pulled a goal back through Johan Vasquez's volley, but Inter held on for a crucial three points. The victory marked Inter's 12th consecutive win in all competitions and kept them on course for a 20th Serie A title."15 points is a significant advantage," said Asllani. "But we can't get carried away, there are still a lot of games to play and we have to stay focused."Inter manager Simone Inzaghi praised his team's performance, particularly in the first half. "We played with great intensity and created several chances," he said. "We were a bit less sharp in the second half, but we managed to control the game and get the three points."Genoa manager Alberto Gilardino was disappointed with the result but acknowledged Inter's quality. "We played well in the second half and created some good chances," he said. "But Inter are a strong team and they deserved to win."Inter will now turn their attention to Saturday's trip to Bologna before hosting Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on March 13.