Serie A: Fiorentina extend unbeaten run

Fiorentina have claimed their third victory in four games, knocking off Genoa 1-0 to move within one point of fourth-placed Lazio in Serie A.

Wing-back Manuel Pasqual scored the only goal of the game early in the first half to secure Fiorentina’s second win in a row and ensure new Genoa head coach Luigi Delneri must continue to wait to earn his first point with the struggling club.

In the 14th minute of Thursday’s game, Fiorentina central defender Gonzalo Rodriguez collected the ball deep in his defensive half and punted a long aerial pass over the top of the home side’s back four.

Pasqual burst inside from the left wing and with his first touch, lifted the ball over Genoa goalkeeper Sebastian Frey to score.

Fiorentina created more chances throughout the match with 13 shots on goal and six on target but failed to score again but that was enough for Vincenzo Montella’s side to earn victory.

Genoa had eight shots for the game with only three testing visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

Montella’s team have moved three points clear of sixth-placed Parma and could overhaul Lazio over the weekend if the Rome-based club fail to win for the third consecutive match.

In his second game in charge of Genoa, Delneri again tasted defeat and will hope to turn the team’s form around away to Siena on Sunday.

Genoa are 16th in Serie A with just two wins from the opening 10 games of the season.