Serie A Liveblog: Sassuolo-Empoli, Salernitana-Monza, Genoa-Udinese | OneFootball

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21:41 That’s all for the Liveblog

Check the main site for more post-match coverage and we’ll see you tomorrow for another series of games. More prestigious ones than today.

21:38 FT: Genoa 2-0 Udinese

21:34 Gudmundsson close

Gudmundsson curler from outside the box SKIMS the far post!

21:29 Subs

Badelj makes way for Strootman

Zarraga on, Lovric off

21:26 Genoa chance

Ekuban cross from the left, palmed into the path of Frendrup, decisive Nehuen Perez block!

21:21 Subs

Davis replaces Thauvin for Udinese.

Genoa introduce Spence, Malinovskyi and Ekuban, bringing Sabelli, Retegui and Messias off.

21:18 Seeing it again

From a different angle, it does look as if Lucca got the ball – through De Winter’s foot. So in that case, it’s a foul.

21:16 Udinese goal disallowed

Hmm… Rolled across from the left, De Winter is in front, but Lucca sliding manages to prod it into the net from six yards anyway. Referee blows the whistle for a foul on De Winter. VAR confirms. Hmm. Not at all convinced by that.

21:14 Gudmundsson error

Retegui lays it off on the edge of the area, Gudmundsson scuffs it wide!

21:08 And again

Morten Frendrup right-foot curler from outside the area, it flashes just wide of the far post!

21:07 Genoa again

Gudmundsson whips a free kick into the box, it goes past everyone, including a slightly panicked Okoye.

21:04 Great Okoye save!

Genoa corner flicked on, finds Badelj for a ferocious volley from just inside the area, Okoye flies and fingertips it over the bar!

21:02 Udinese chance

Ebosele header over the bar, but Kamara was flagged offside on the build-up anyway.

20:57 Changes

Joao Ferreira and Kamara on, Samardiz and Zemura off for Udinese.

Vogliacco replaces Vasquez for Genoa.

20:54 Retegui goal

20:52 Udinese down to 10 men!

Kristensen receives his second yellow card for tripping Messias just outside the area!

20:49 Genoa chance

Messias gets down the right, but then scuffs the angled drive horribly across the face of goal.

20:49 2nd half kicks off: Genoa 2-0 Udinese

Ebosele on, Ehizibue off.

20:33 Half-Time: Genoa 2-0 Udinese

Retegui and Bani with the goals, both sides rattled the woodwork with Lucca and Vasquez headers.

20:28 Card for Kristensen

Dragged back Sabelli on the counter.

20:26 Genoa 2-0 Udinese: Mattia Bani!

Genoa set play not cleared very well by Walace, Gudmundsson floats a ball into the box, where Bani was still there for a relatively free header from six yards!

20:22 Genoa 1-0 Udinese: Mateo Retegui!

Golazo! Cross was low from the left, but Giannetti’s deflection made it go up into the air, so Retegui improvised with a fantastic overhead kick from 8 yards!

20:21 So close

20:20 Thauvin blocked

Thauvin shot charged down in the box by Vasquez, although Lucca was offside to start the move anyway.

20:18 Genoa hit the woodwork!

Gudmundsson corner finds the free header from Vasquez and it thumps the near post!

20:16 Yellow card

De Winter booked for Genoa.

20:14 Messias close

Genoa again, that Messias free kick was going into the top corner, Okoye was nowhere near it, but Nehuen Perez header decisive!

20:12 Huge save on Vasquez!

Now Genoa nearly take the lead! Retegui knocks down a cross at the back post, Vasquez prods it from six yards and huge save from Okoye! Ehizibue then charges down a shot from close range with his face and that’s got to hurt.

20:11 Udinese hit the crossbar!

Lucca header loops up and bounces off the top of the crossbar!

20:10 Coaches are getting frustrated

Gilardino shouting at De Winter not to keep passing it backwards, Cioffi shouting at Thauvin for leaving Lucca isolated.

20:03 Genoa chance

Gudmundsson strike charged down from the edge of the area.

20:01 Udinese push

Samardzic cross from the left just a little over the head of Lucca.

19:55 Save on Walace

Udinese are aggressive here, Walace effort from distance, Bani gets a slight deflection and Martinez is behind it.

19:51 Udinese threaten

Shot deflected over for a corner. From that corner, Messias tries to break on the counter, but Ehizibue is quicker.

19:49 Okoye alert

Smart Badelj through ball releases Messias, the goalkeeper has to rush off his line to smother.

19:47 Impressive

Giannetti scythes down Retegui and is booked after 18 seconds.

19:46 We have kick-off in Genoa vs. Udinese!

19:42 Out come the teams

Genoa: Martinez; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Messias, Martin; Gudmundsson, Retegui

Udinese: Okoye; Perez, Giannetti, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Lovric, Walace, Samardzic, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca

19:16 Nice try, Zemura

Jordan Zemura started giving the Sky Sport Italia interview in Italian, quickly pivoted to English. He tried, that’s the important thing.

The Grifone are comfortably mid-table and fresh from a 1-1 draw away to Napoli, with only Alan Matturro on the treatment table for the rest of the season.

The Friulani are still hovering just above the relegation zone, despite a three-game unbeaten streak including victory over Juventus. Roberto Pereyra, Jaka Bijol, Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu are still out of action.

19:01 Pessina goal

18:53 FT: Salernitana 0-2 Monza

Last kick of the game was an Ochoa save to prevent 3-0. Jeers from the home fans.

18:49 Stoppages

Into four minutes of added time in Salerno.

18:46 Genoa vs. Udinese line-ups

Genoa: Martinez; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Messias, Martin; Gudmundsson, Retegui

Udinese: Okoye; Perez, Giannetti, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Lovric, Walace, Samardzic, Zemura; Thauvin, Lucca

18:45 Simy on

Simy replaces Candreva.

18:41 Salernitana 0-2 Monza: Matteo Pessina!

That is a quality finish. Bit route one in the build-up, Di Gregorio looooong goal kick, Djuric flicks it on, but then Pessina turns on the class with a delightful lob over Ochoa.

18:40 Monza change

Akpa Akpro replaces Valentin Carboni

18:36 Salernitana 0-1 Monza: Daniel Maldini!

Marvellous! Daniel Maldini down the left, quick give and go with Gagliardini, sweeps in the angled drive for his first goal in the Monza jersey!

18:35 Double Di Gregorio save!

Whatever Ochoa can do… Monza caught on the counter by a misplaced pass, Tchaouna bursts down the left, his first left-footed strike is saved at the near post, then so is the second with his right foot!

18:31 Changes

Dia and Legowski on, Basic and Kastanos off.

Izzo replaced by Kyriakopoulos for Monza.

18:30 Basic booked

Clumsy more than intentional, but very high foot from Basic.

18:28 Salernitana chance!

Candreva on the counter, cuts inside, blocked off and it falls for Kastanos, whose curler is deflected over by Caldirola!

18:25 Monza subs

Caldirola and Maldini on, Pablo Mari and Dany Mota off

18:21 Izzo booked

Pulls back substitute Tchaouna and is suspended for Monza’s next match.

18:19 Salernitana change

Manolas is exhausted. Manolas and Weissman off, Boateng and Tchaouna on.

18:15 OCHOAAAAAAA

How did he keep that out?!? Corner knocked down for Gagliardini tap-in, Ochoa somehow managed to parry with his body on the line!

18:14 Big Monza chance!

Cross into the box, Djuric header knocked down to the back post for a tap-in, decisive Pellegrino clearance!

18:12 Kastanos blocked

Zanoli good work down the right, Kastanos shot charged down for a corner.

18:10 Izzo header

Towering Izzo header, but not enough power to surprise Ochoa on the corner.

18:06 Pablo Mari booked

Kastanos intercepts a weak Birindelli midfield pass and Pablo Mari has to take one for the team.

18:03 2nd half kicks off: Salernitana 0-0 Monza

18:02 Monza change

Bondo on, Colpani off

17:59 Half-Time

17:46 Half-Time: Salernitana 0-0 Monza

Djuric hit the post early on and a stunning Ochoa save, then Salernitana woke up.

17:44 Monza chance

Colpani cross goes past Djuric, but finds Gagliardini for a diving header wide.

17:40 Ochoa save

Izzo header from a corner, but it’s straight at Ochoa.

17:39 Pasalidis booked

Oof! Pasalidis absolutely wipes out Dany Mota Carvalho. Did not slow down going into that tackle at all.

17:36 Salernitana chance!

Free kick routine sets up Candreva’s strike, Gagliardini deflects it wide of the near post!

17:35 Kastanos brought down

Kastanos gathers from Candreva and is tripped by Birindelli, inches outside the penalty area. Referee did well to spot where the contact came.

17:32 Timid penalty appeals

Notably, the appeals were from other Monza players, not Djuric, who got tangled up with Pellegrino.

17:28 Salernitana chance

Zanoli pulls back from the by-line, Weissman is either trying to redirect it to a teammate or go for goal, it ends up being neither of those things.

17:27 It’s more disjointed now

Neither side seems able to put together a consistent period of pressure.

17:22 Short corner

Salernitana take a short corner and that goes as well as most short corners.

17:20 Complaints

Crowd frustrated, but the referee was right there, the extra ricochet off Candreva means it is a goal kick and not a corner.

17:14 Game has settled a little

After the lightning start from Monza, and a set play that was over-hit, Monza have calmed down a little bit.

17:09 Salernitana chance

Kastanos left-foot curler from a good 25 metres out, that flashed not far wide of the far post at all!

17:08 Interesting start

Salernitana could easily be 2-0 down already…

17:06 Big Ochoa save!

Monza AGAIN, corner flicked on for Izzo who tries to bundle it over the line with his knee from three yards, incredible Ochoa reaction save!

17:03 Djuric again

Another Djuric header goes off target. Strong Monza start here.

17:02 Monza off the woodwork!

Barela 60 seconds gone and Monza have a huge opportunity, Birindelli cross and Djuric right-foot volley thumps the upright!

17:00 We have kick-off in Salernitana vs. Monza!

16:53 Salernitana vs. Monza line-ups

Salernitana: Ochoa; Pasalidis, Manolas, Pellegrino; Zanoli, Basic, Coulibaly, Bradaric; Kastanos, Candreva; Weissman

16:29 Manolas is back

16:20 The Nicola Effect

16:17 Team news

Norbert Gyomber, Lorenzo Pirola and Niccolò Pierozzi are injured, but Federico Fazio is back in the squad and Kostas Manolas makes his first start in a new three-man defence.

Monza miss Samuel Vignato and Gianluca Caprari, but goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio recovered from a knock to the head.

16:06 Salernitana XI

15:54 FT: Sassuolo 2-3 Empoli

Ruan Tressoldi header is on target, but no threat. What a game!

15:51 Sassuolo 2-3 Empoli: Simone Bastoni!

At the 93rd minute, Razvan Marin free kick whipped in, Bastoni glancing header at the near post goes across the six-yard box and into the far bottom corner!

15:48 Into stoppages

5 minutes of added time.

15:45 Sassuolo again

It is end to end now, both teams are going for it. Bajrami hits his strike into the ground and it ricochets wide.

15:44 Cambiaghi again

Another horrible finish from Cambiaghi on the Niang assist, this one from closer to the goal.

15:43 Sassuolo threaten

Bajrami mazy run, but the shot is charged down in the six-yard box.

15:42 Empoli chance

Oh dear! Cambiaghi was clear then, had time and space, ballooned over the bar from just inside the area!

15:37 Empoli change

Bastoni on, Kovalenko off

15:34 Sassuolo 2-2 Empoli: Gian Marco Ferrari!

What a game this is! Free kick whipped into the box by Bajrami and defender Gian Marco Ferrari leaps to nod in the equaliser!

15:28 Empoli chance!

Cancellieri rolls across from the right by-line, Niang sliding in gets a touch, but Consigli with a great reaction save from point-blank range!

15:26 Sassuolo change

Mulattieri on, Volpato offC

15:21 Sassuolo 1-2 Empoli: M’Baye Niang penalty!

Three games for Empoli, three penalties converted.

15:20 Penalty for Empoli!

Handball on the Niang shot by Ferrari. Niang had just now messed up a promising counter with a poor first touch, but earned this corner.

15:17 Niang over the bar

Already having an impact for Empoli.

15:15 Changes

Cerri replaced by Niang for Empoli. Sassuolo looking more threatening, important defensive header for a corner.

15:12 Sassuolo 1-1 Empoli: Andrea Pinamonti penalty!

He left Caprile pretty much rooted to the spot, drilling into the near bottom corner. That took guts after last time.

15:11 Penalty for Sassuolo!

Pinamonti to take. After seeing two saved against Atalanta…

15:10 VAR!

Hang on! On the resulting corner, Ruan Tressoldi and Ismajli got into a tangle.

15:08 Save on Doig!

That’s the first proper Sassuolo chance, Doig strike deflected off Ismajli, Caprile flies to fingertip it over the bar.

15:02 2nd half kicks off: Sassuolo 0-1 Empoli

Bajrami replaces Boloca for the hosts.

14:48 Half-Time: Sassuolo 0-1 Empoli

Luperto header decisive so far. Sassuolo jeered by their fans at half-time.

14:47 Sassuolo chance

Volpato cross for Pinamonti header, straight at the goalkeeper. But it’s on target.

14:42 Consigli gloves stung

Cambiaghi cross from the right beaten away by Consigli.

14:34 Sassuolo threaten

After a corner, Pinamonti crosses it back into the centre for Ferrari’s header, Ismajli makes himself as irritating as possible.

14:28 Better from Lauriente

Still not good, but better, as he cuts inside from the left and blasts over the bar.

14:27 Volpato slips

Referee again in the ideal position to see that Volpato slipped when cutting back from the by-line. Not a dive, but certainly not a penalty either.

14:23 Empoli goal disallowed

It was an initial cross nodded onto the upright, it came back to Maleh to control with his arm and turn in the rebound. Referee spotted it straight away, VAR confirms.

14:20 Never mind

If only Berardi had been behind that. Instead, Lauriente’ blasted well into the air.

14:19 Dangerous spot for a free kick

Pinamonti brought down right outside the box for Sassuolo.

14:15 Sassuolo fight back

Thorstvedt solo run blocked off, then Caprile gets his gloves to a dangerous cross from the left.

14:12 Luperto seems ok

Luperto back on his feet, did not want the stretcher.

14:10 Sassuolo 0-1 Empoli: Sebastiano Luperto!

Ouch! Maleh free kick to the back post, Luperto diving header and then crashes face-first into the upright on the way down… So he’s in no condition to celebrate.

14:10 Boloca booked

Repeated fouling and he will be suspended for the next Sassuolo match.

14:07 Sassuolo respond

Lauriente’ shrugs off Cancellieri and fires over the bar after a solo run.

14:04 Empoli chance

Maleh free kick bounces awkwardly in front of the goalkeeper, who has to palm it away.

14:00 We have kick-off in Sassuolo vs. Empoli!

Sassuolo: Consigli; Pedersen, Ruan Tressoldi, Ferrari, Doig; Boloca, Matheus Henrique; Volpato, Thorstvedt, Lauriente; Pinamonti

Empoli: Caprile; Ismajli, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Kovalenko, Marin, Maleh, Cacace; Cambiaghi, Cancellieri; Cerri

13:33 Team news

Mattia Viti,  Martin Erlic, Jeremy Toljan and above all star man Domenico Berardi are still injured.

Empoli were revitalised under new coach Davide Nicola, still unbeaten with two wins and three draws. However, Szymon Zurkowski, Francesco Caputo and Tyronne Ebuehi are on the treatment table, with Alberto Grassi only fit for the bench, plus Emmanuel Gyasi suspended.

13:08 Sassuolo vs. Empoli line-ups

Sassuolo: Consigli; Pedersen, Ruan Tressoldi, Ferrari, Doig; Boloca, Matheus Henrique; Volpato, Thorstvedt, Lauriente; Pinamonti

Empoli: Caprile; Ismajli, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Kovalenko, Marin, Maleh, Cacace; Cambiaghi, Cancellieri; Cerri

Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games with the relegation battle at the forefront in Sassuolo-Empoli, Salernitana-Monza and Genoa-Udinese.

Week 26 started last night with Bologna beating Verona 2-0, but today we kick off at 14.00 GMT with Sassuolo having dropped into the bottom three behind Empoli.

At 17.00 GMT, last-placed Salernitana under their third coach of the season host a revitalised Monza fresh from beating Milan.