Very heavy defeat on English soil for Genoa who were beaten 10-1 in the unprecedented match, in terms of opponent and method (4 halves of 30′), against Bournemouth. A much superior opponent who finished sixth in the Premier League will play in the Europa League, which De Rossi’s rossoblù were able to resist for just 50 minutes.
The Genoa coach took advantage of the particular formula by effectively fielding two different teams: one that played the first two halves and one, full of young players, for the last two. The first, a 3-5-1-1, very close to the starting one saw the rossoblù close 1-0 down, with Scott ahead, the first half equalized then at the start of the second half with Ellertsson before collapsing under the blows of Kluivert, two penalties scored, and Truffert. In the third and fourth half on the pitch with the 3-5-2 a Grifone full of young players who conceded another six goals from Scott, a brace, another penalty with Brooks, then Jebbison. The last half then saw the hosts secure the result with a brace from Unal interspersed with a goal from Gonzalez. For De Rossi’s team, a wake-up call 12 days after their debut in the Italian Cup and just under three weeks after their debut in the championship.