Genoa 2-1 Roma Player Ratings: Messias 8.5/10 as Vítinha's Late Strike Breaks Roman Hearts

This one had everything. Genoa and Roma served up a pulsating Serie A clash that twisted and turned right until the final whistle, ending 2-1 in favour of the hosts in a match that Roma will feel they let slip. The first half was tight and goalless, with both sides cancelling each other out, but the second half was an entirely different story.

Pellegrini's needless foul gifted Genoa a penalty just five minutes after the restart, and Junior Messias stepped up to convert with ice-cold composure. Roma responded well, with Ndicka's towering header levelling things up in the 55th minute and giving the visitors real momentum. But just when it looked like Roma might go on and win it, substitute Vítinha had other ideas, arriving from the bench to tap home the winner in the 80th minute and send the Marassi into absolute raptures. A deserved victory for Genoa, and a deeply frustrating evening for Roma. Here are Sportsdunia's Genoa vs Roma player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Roma looked like they had wrestled control back when Ndicka's header drew them level in the 55th minute, but their inability to defend Genoa's late pressure ultimately cost them dearly as Vítinha's tap-in sealed all three points.
• Discipline was a real issue for both sides, with Ndicka, Malen, Cristante, and Masini all picking up yellow cards in a feisty affair that grew increasingly heated as the stakes rose in the closing stages.
• Lorenzo Pellegrini's reckless foul inside the penalty area just five minutes into the second half was the defining moment that shifted the entire match, a moment of pure carelessness that handed Genoa the initiative on a plate

Roma Player Ratings vs Genoa

Check out the Roma player ratings vs Genoa.

Goalkeeper

Mile Svilar - 6.0: We can't really fault him for either goal. The first was a penalty he had no chance with. The second was a chaotic, close-range scramble. He made a couple of decent saves and his distribution was okay, if a little hurried at times. A standard performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Zeki Çelik - 6.0: A pretty tidy but ultimately unremarkable performance. His passing was impressively accurate, but he offered little thrust going forward. He did his defensive duties without much fuss before being substituted late on. Solid, but not spectacular.

Gianluca Mancini - 6.5: A typical battling display from Mancini. He was dominant in the air, winning most of his aerial duels. He put his body on the line with several key clearances. From our perspective, he fought hard, but his efforts weren't enough to secure the backline.

Evan Ndicka - 7.5: Roma's standout player by a country mile. He took his goal exceptionally well, a powerful header that dragged his team back into the game. Despite an early yellow card, he remained composed and made several crucial defensive actions. He was the one shining light for Roma.

Midfielders

Devyne Rensch - 5.5: He ran a lot but seemed to have little impact on the game. He got into a good position for a header but couldn't direct it on target. We noticed he was often on the periphery of the action before his substitution.

Konstantinos Tsimikas - 6.0: He was involved, racking up plenty of touches. However, his final ball often lacked quality. He worked hard up and down the flank but failed to create any clear-cut chances. An industrious but ultimately fruitless outing.

Manu Koné - 5.5: A frustrating performance to watch. He showed flashes of quality on the ball but was too often dispossessed or made the wrong decision. He didn't stamp his authority on the midfield battle and got caught offside in a key moment late in the game.

Niccolò Pisilli - 5.0: It was a tough evening for the young midfielder. He struggled with the physicality of the game, losing the majority of his duels. He also gave the ball away far too many times. A difficult learning experience against a rugged Genoa side.

Forwards

Lorenzo Pellegrini - 4.0: A truly shocking day at the office for the captain. He was anonymous in attack and his main contribution was a disastrous one. Conceding the penalty with such a clumsy foul was the turning point. It felt like a moment of panic, and he was rightly substituted soon after.

Donyell Malen - 5.0: We barely noticed he was playing. He was caught offside three times, which sums up his poor timing and lack of involvement. He picked up a needless yellow card and never looked like a threat. A very disappointing showing.

Lorenzo Venturino - 5.5: Only played the first half and made virtually no impression. He was a passenger in a game that was crying out for some attacking spark. The decision to replace him at halftime was no surprise to us.

Substitutes

Bryan Cristante - 5.5: Came on but couldn't change the game, picked up a yellow card for his troubles.

Neil El Aynaoui - 6.0: Looked tidy but the game passed him by.

Daniele Ghilardi - N/A

Jan Ziólkowski - N/A

Robinio Vaz - N/A

Manager

G. Gasperini - 4.5: His team looked flat and uninspired. The initial setup was ineffective, and the players seemed to lack a clear plan. While the equalizer provided a brief moment of hope, the team's overall performance was disjointed and lacked fight. He was tactically outmanoeuvred.

Genoa Player Ratings vs Roma

Here are the Genoa player ratings for the Genoa vs Roma Serie A fixture.

Goalkeeper

Justin Bijlow - 6.0: He had one of the quietest games of his career. He couldn't do anything about Ndicka's powerful header. Other than that, he was mostly a spectator. An easy day's work for the shot-stopper.

Defenders

Leo Østigård - 8.0: What a rock. He was simply immense at the back for Genoa. He won an incredible number of aerial duels and made eight crucial clearances. He absolutely dominated the Roma forwards and was a true defensive titan.

Johan Vásquez - 7.5: A captain's performance. He was composed, intelligent, and led the backline with authority. His reading of the game was excellent, making key interceptions and keeping the defense organized. A very solid and reliable display.

Alessandro Marcandalli - 6.5: He had a few nervy moments but overall did his job well. He contributed with seven clearances and played his part in a strong defensive unit. He stuck to his task and helped secure the win.

Midfielders

Stefano Sabelli - 6.5: A tireless worker on the right flank. He wasn't always spectacular, but he was incredibly reliable and disciplined. He did his job both defensively and offensively, providing good support for his team.

Morten Frendrup - 7.0: The midfield enforcer. He was an absolute pest for the Roma players, constantly breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. He covered every blade of grass. A classic, gritty midfield performance that was vital for his team.

Patrizio Masini - 7.5: Provided the crucial assist for the winning goal. Beyond that, he was a real force in the midfield, winning duels and driving his team forward. He overcame an early yellow card to put in a fantastic, all-action display.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 7.5: He was electric before his unfortunate injury. His clever movement and dribbling won the penalty that changed the game. He was a constant thorn in Roma's side. Genoa missed his spark when he went off.

Forwards

Junior Messias - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was the architect of Genoa's best attacks. He showed immense composure to slot home the penalty under pressure. His skill and creativity were on full display until he was substituted. A top-class performance.

Jeff Ekhator - 6.5: He didn't get on the scoresheet, but his work rate was phenomenal. He stretched the Roma defense with his constant running and clever movement. A selfless performance that created space for others.

Caleb Ekuban - 6.0: It wasn't his day in front of goal, as he missed a couple of decent chances. However, he never stopped working for the team. He battled hard with the defenders and played his part in the victory.

Substitutes

Vítinha - 8.0: The hero of the day. He came on and scored the winning goal with a clinical finish. A perfect super-sub contribution that won his team the match.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 6.5: Came on and helped see the game out with his experience.

Lorenzo Colombo - 6.0: Added fresh legs up front.

Aarón Martín - N/A

Manager

D. De Rossi - 8.5: He got his tactics spot on. His team was organized, disciplined, and clinical. His decision to bring on Vítinha was a stroke of genius that directly won the game. A masterful coaching performance.

Man of the Match

Junior Messias was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Lorenzo Pellegrini was the worst performer.