Genoa 0-0 Atalanta: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of Genoa 0-0 Atalanta in the Serie A on Sunday, 21 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

The match between Genoa and Atalanta ended in a 0-0 draw. Early drama struck when Genoa’s goalkeeper Nicola Leali received a red card in the third minute, forcing an immediate substitution as Daniele Sommariva came on for Aarón Martín just two minutes later. Atalanta, coming off a mixed run with a recent win over Cagliari but losses to Hellas Verona and Napoli, looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage but struggled to break down Genoa’s resilient defence throughout the first half.

Genoa, who had shown defensive grit in their recent draws against Cagliari and Fiorentina, adapted well to playing with ten men and limited Atalanta’s clear chances in the second half. The visitors dominated possession but failed to convert it into goals, with both sides sharing just one corner each in a tightly contested affair. This result extends Genoa’s patchy form, following a loss to Inter but back-to-back wins over Udinese and Hellas Verona, while Atalanta will see it as two points dropped after their up-and-down results including a home defeat to Sassuolo.

Atalanta controlled the game with 68% possession, highlighting their dominance on the ball against Genoa’s 32%, yet this failed to translate into a breakthrough as the hosts held firm despite being a man down. The visitors racked up 33 successful dribbles compared to Genoa’s zero, showing their ability to beat defenders, but equal corners at one apiece underlined a lack of cutting edge in the final third. Genoa used one substitution early on, with Daniele Sommariva coming on for Aarón Martín at the fifth minute, while Atalanta made none, and the single red card to Genoa disrupted their plans without leading to further cards.

The game’s defining moment came early when Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali was shown a red card in the third minute, leaving his team to play most of the match with ten men. This prompted an immediate tactical adjustment, with Daniele Sommariva replacing Aarón Martín just two minutes later to shore up the goal. Atalanta pressed but could not find a way through, resulting in a goalless stalemate with no other major incidents shifting the balance.

Genoa lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, focusing on defensive solidity that held up well even after the early red card to Nicola Leali. The setup allowed for compact midfield partnerships, though the substitution of Daniele Sommariva for Aarón Martín at five minutes altered their shape slightly to accommodate the change in goal. Key roles centred on maintaining structure against Atalanta’s pressure.

Atalanta deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation, emphasising attacking width and midfield creativity to exploit Genoa’s reduced numbers. Ruslan Malinovskyi featured prominently in an advanced role, contributing to their possession dominance. The setup supported fluid partnerships in the forward areas, though it lacked the final product needed for goals.

Bwin’s Man of the Match was Ruslan Malinovskyi, who stood out for Atalanta with his composure on the ball despite the team’s failure to score. He recorded one key pass but no goals, assists or big chances created, yet his involvement helped maintain pressure on Genoa’s defence throughout the game. Malinovskyi’s efforts were notable in a match where clear opportunities were scarce.

Recent Serie A matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Inter (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Udinese (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Hellas Verona (H)
• Draw: 3-3 vs Cagliari (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Fiorentina (H)

Recent Serie A matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Cagliari (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Hellas Verona (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Fiorentina (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Napoli (A)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Sassuolo (H)

Genoa have just played out a 0-0 draw with Atalanta, earning a valuable point despite the early red card, which leaves them in 16th place on 14 points amid a form guide showing a recent loss to Inter but wins over Udinese and Hellas Verona.

Atalanta have just drawn 0-0 with Genoa, a result that feels like missed opportunity given their dominance, placing them 13th on 19 points following a form that includes a win over Cagliari but losses to Hellas Verona, Napoli and Sassuolo. Their next match is against Inter on 2025-12-28 at 19:45, with the opposition currently first on 33 points. Facing the league leaders will test Atalanta’s ability to bounce back and chase a higher position, building on positives like their victory over Fiorentina.

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