Genoa and Inter Milan drew 2-2 on Saturday in the opening game of Serie A thanks to a second-half penalty. Two goals from Marcus Thuram were not enough for Inter to start their title defence with a win.
In his first season in Italy, Thuram scored 15 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Inter.
Against Inter, Alessandro Vogliacco gave Genoa the lead thanks to a surprise goal. However Thuram scored a spectacular brace to bring Inter back in lead. But Genoa were awarded a penalty just before the end of added time, which Yann Sommer saved but Junior Messias converted on rebound.
Genoa took the lead after 20 minutes. The loss of their two top scorers, Matteo Letegui and Albert Gutmunsson, forced coach Alberto Gilardino to regroup, but the opening goal came from an unlikely source. Sommer looked to have the free kick under control, but hit it against the crossbar as he leapt out of the way. Vogliacco was first and quickest to react to the rebound and pushed the ball into the goal. The 25-year-old’s goal was his first in more than 140 appearances for the first team.
Ten minutes later, Thuram headed the ball into the bottom corner of Genoa goal after a Nicolò Barella cross from the right to tie the score.
Shortly afterwards, the referee awarded Inter a penalty, but overturned the decision after seeing a replay on the pitchside monitor. Thuram kicked Genoa captain Milan Badelj after Badelj had reached the ball first.
Just before half-time, Genoa’s Pierluigi Gollini had a chance to put the visitors ahead when he parried Lautaro Martínez’s shot on the goal line after Badelj headed in Federico Di Marco’s chase shot. After half-time, Di Marco’s goal was ruled out for offside.
Six minutes later, Thuram beat Gorrini with a sublime chip, who again slid the ball into the net, but refree decided that Thuram was offside. However after VAR review the goal was given to inter as they take the lead.
In added time, Inter looked to have won when half the Genoa bench rose to call for handball, but a second check on the sideline revealed that Bisseck had touched the ball with his hand while trying to avoid a header. Sommer saved Junior Messias’ penalty but the Brazilian was able to score the follow-up shot.
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