Defeat Proves That AC Milan Have Been Bested by Genoa on and off the Field
AC Milan’s six-match unbeaten run came to a dramatic end on Tuesday night at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, where they lost 3-0 to Genoa. The result not only restored a sense of realism following last weekend's win over Juventus but also marked the latest chapter in a strange relationship between two clubs.
Judging on the match itself, there wouldn’t seem to be much of a connection between Milan and Genoa.
The atmosphere was raucous, with the home crowd baying for fouls and cards at every opportunity. Meanwhile, the two sets of players didn’t stop bickering throughout, and the away side left the pitch with one less man than they started the game with.
However, the intimate relationship between the two clubs manifests itself away from the field of play, rather than on it. More precisely, it shows itself within the chaotic, unpredictable and often nonsensical world of the transfer market.
The last time a player did not arrive at Milan from Genoa in some way over the course of a season was during the 2007-08 campaign. To contextualise how long ago that was, back then Alexandre Pato was a youthful prospect with an exciting career ahead of him. Also, Carlo Ancelotti was still in charge—and Milan were European champions.
They were different times, but since then countless players have arrived at or returned to Milanello following time spent with the Grifone.
In 2008-09, Marco Borriello rejoined Milan after an exceptional year of goalscoring at the Marassi. The next year, Davide Di Gennaro came back to the club after time spent at Genoa as part of a co-ownership agreement.
The 2010-11 season saw Milan continue this special transfer-market association by recruiting three players in Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Marco Amelia. Stephan El Shaarawy followed them the next year.
This pattern continued in more recent years with Kevin Constant, Valter Birsa, Luca Antonelli, Juraj Kucka and Andrea Bertolacci all swapping Genoa for Milan, albeit the latter did so through AS Roma, who bought 100 per cent of his playing rights before selling him on for profit. Additionally, M’Baye Niang and Suso spent time on loan at Genoa before returning to the Rossoneri.
Seeing so many of their finest players depart for the same club would cause unrest with any fanbase. Consequently, the hostile atmosphere created by the Genoa fans during Tuesday’s clash with Milan was perhaps understandable.
However, Genoa do not appear to have lost out in their relationship with Milan, a notion only furthered by what transpired in their latest meeting.
After just 11 minutes of action, Nikola Ninkovic stooped to head home from close range following a superb, curled cross by Tomas Rincon. And while Milan gradually asserted greater control of ball possession, they were unable to make it count in the form of an equalising goal.
Genoa defended well with intense man-oriented marking to prevent coach Vincenzo Montella’s men from turning their possession into clear-cut chances. The result was slow, turgid and ineffective play from the away side, who failed to seriously test the home team’s defensive line in the first half.
Matters were made worse for Milan relatively early in the second period, as centre-back Gabriel Paletta scythed down Luca Rigoni with a tackle that could be described as clumsy at best. Leaping into the challenge, the 30-year-old—who had otherwise been solid—got nothing of the ball. The result was a straight red card.
One goal to the good and with a one-man advantage to boot, Genoa remained on the back foot, but continued to absorb pressure without much difficulty. And on 80 minutes, they were helped out by one of their multiple ex-players who now wear the red and black—or in this particular case, the white—of Milan.
Kucka has been a small-sized revelation since his move last summer for a bargain transfer fee of £2.55 million. The Slovakian dynamo brings a relentless energy to Milan’s midfield that cannot be emulated by any of his team-mates, while his powerful forward surges are often surprisingly effective for breaking the opposition’s lines.
However, in his two return appearances at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to face his old team he has struggled.
Last term he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat and put in a fairly quiet display. This time he was similarly unproductive before steering a cross into his own net to double Genoa’s lead. In that moment, Milan’s hopes of three points were well and truly wiped out.
Curiously, of the two other permanent signings from Genoa that remain within Milan’s squad, none were present at any stage in the game. Both Antonelli and Bertolacci were unavailable due to injuries, though it is arguable that neither would have featured even if fully fit.
The former has seen his left-back berth taken by Mattia De Sciglio, whose upturn in form saw him take on the captaincy on Tuesday night in the absence of Riccardo Montolivo and Ignazio Abate.
Meanwhile, Bertolacci has been hampered by bad luck and poor form since his move to Milan last summer and is unlikely to immediately claim a starting spot when he returns from his spell on the sidelines.
Six minutes after Kucka’s own goal, Genoa sealed victory with a third goal, courtesy of Leonardo Pavoletti. The striker, who left Alessio Romagnoli red-faced with a simple turn and finish, was linked with Milan earlier this year, per Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia).
The 3-0 scoreline flattered Genoa. Milan had more possession, more pass success, completed more dribbles and attempted more shots, per WhoScored.com. And the statistics offer a fair reflection of a match that, on another day, could have ended with Montella’s side taking a point home with them.
Hence, the coach’s pragmatism in defeat was reasonable.
Montella told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia):
"It was a difficult match, which we expected. In the first half our tempo was too slow, but I don’t remember a genuine Genoa shot on goal, so the result did not reflect the performances.
In the second half I liked the team much better. We didn’t want to lose and tried to fight back, but the red card made everything more complicated.
Even down to 10 men we went close. We were in the game, physically and psychologically.
"
Ultimately, however, the loss represented Milan’s fourth in their last five league meetings with Genoa.
This sequence of results stretches back to December 2014, since when Genoa have received £13.61 million in transfer fees as a consequence of Milan’s spending. (It’s worth noting that this figure takes into account a £7.23 million fee for Bertolacci from Roma, facilitated by £17 million paid to Roma by Milan for the player.)
The transfer-market connection between Milan and Genoa hasn’t been all one way, however.
Niang and Suso were Milan’s most threatening attacking players at a stadium where they enjoyed six-month loan deals in the recent past. Indeed, both revitalised their careers with temporary spells at Genoa and returned to the San Siro as better players.
In this respect, the Grifone have acted as a finishing school of sorts for the Rossoneri’s wayward prospects. While nurturing the 21-year-old Niang and the 22-year-old Suso, however, Genoa were also enhanced by the presence of two such talented young attackers.
All in all, Genoa have benefited from Milan’s spending in recent years—winning both in terms of scores and transfer fees.
A healthy relationship is a two-way one. Unfortunately for Milan, theirs with Genoa hasn’t been.
All transfer fees provides by Transfermarkt.co.uk unless otherwise stated.
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