[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 9 - 28/10/07 (19.30 UK)
Genoa 0 - 0 Fiorentina

Stadio Ferraris

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Sebastien Frey's saves proved decisive in earning Fiorentina a goalless draw away to high-flying Genoa, so they remain four points adrift of the leaders.

Both former Scudetto winners who have had very promising campaigns so far, the Viola knew that if they maintained their unbeaten record they would fly into second place. Genoa had to do without the suspended Alessandro Lucarelli, while Massimo Gobbi was injured for the visitors. This fixture had not been played in Serie A since a 1-1 draw on September 11, 1994.

Adrian Mutu took the ball past Rubinho on Giampaolo Pazzini's pass, but the angle was too narrow and he was unable to make the most of the early opportunity.

Sebastien Frey had his gloves stung by a powerful Julio Cesar Leon free kick, then controlled a Marco Borriello sudden snapshot from distance.

Leon went on a spectacular solo run dribbling with the ball glued to his foot past five defenders before Alessandro Gamberini finally disposessed him. Genoa were furious and director Fabrizio Preziosi was dismissed from the bench for taking his protests too far.

Moments later Leon tried it again with another fantastic mazy run, his shot deflected over for a corner.

Giuseppe Sculli went very close to an opener on 37 minutes, as Juric cut back for the former Chievo man and brought a desperate reaction save out of Frey.

On the stroke of half-time Pazzini got on the end of Franco Semioli's pass, but couldn't quite co-ordinate himself for the volley from seven yards as he came sliding in.

After the restart Kuzmanovic drilled over from a promising position and Rubinho blocked a Mutu free kick. Manuel Pasqual curled a set-piece over.

Marco Di Vaio replaced Sculli and Fabio Liverani, surprisingly left out, took over from Kuzmanovic. Matteo Paro struck past the upright from distance, but Fiorentina really should have scored when Mutu ran to the byeline and cut back for Pazzini to incredibly thump wide from six yards.

Christian Vieri replaced Pazzini and hoped to replicate his midweek performance in the UEFA Cup, where he scored in the 1-1 draw at Villarreal.

Leon wanted a penalty for a coming together with Per Kroldrup on the very edge of the area, but the referee waved play on. Argentine international Lucho Figueroa finally made his Serie A debut for Genoa after two knee ligament operations and was given a standing ovation by the Marassi crowd.

Deep into stoppages Di Vaio went on the counter and saw Frey off his line, but the ball across the face of goal just failed to find Figueroa's decisive touch from point-blank range.

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Genoa: Rubinho; Konko, Bovo, Bega, Danilo; Rossi, Paro, Juric (Fabiano 83); Leon, Borriello (Figueroa 77), Sculli (Di Vaio 63)

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Donadel, Kuzmanovic (Liverani 64), Montolivo, Semioli, Pazzini (Vieri 73), Mutu (Osvaldo 83)

Ref: Morganti

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