Bitter Serie A debut for FC Internazionale against Genoa

Genoa nullified FC Internazionale's powerful victory with a penalty goal on the last chance of the match.

Serie A - Genoa v. Inter
Serie A - Genoa v. Inter | MARCO BERTORELLO/GettyImages

The new Serie A season has started again.

The opening match saw Genoa and FC Internazionale, the current reigning champion, clash at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa.

The side coached by Simone Inzaghi started with its classic typical formation, without any new additions to the summer transfer market starting.

In any case, from the start of the match it was the away team that tried to manage possession of the ball and thus was able to create the first opportunities to break the deadlock.

Yet in the 20th minute it was the home team who found the opening goal.

Following the confusing development of a free kick, the ball hit the crossbar, disorientating Swiss goalkeeper Yan Sommer in its exit, and returned to the center of the penalty area.

Defender Alessandro Vogliacco arrived promptly on the ball and cleverly exploited the opportunity by pushing the ball into an empty net and thus scored the first goal of the new 2024/2025 Serie A season.

The Neroazzurri responded immediately and found the equalizer after a few minutes, in the 30th minute, with a header from striker Marcus Thuram who, with a great rise, took advantage of his teammate's good cross to return Nicolò Barella.

Immediately afterwards the visiting team threatened again in two opportunities created by the Neroazzurri attacking duo.

Of particular importance was the last opportunity with the save from goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini who avoided a goal from striker Lautaro Martinez.

Marcus Thuram
Marcus Thuram was the best of his team, scoring a brace | Image Photo Agency/GettyImages

The second half of the match essentially maintained the balance of the first half.

Both teams alternately were able to create insidious conclusions by taking advantage of the physical condition of both teams, which was still not optimal given it was the first match of the championship as well as the hot climate which did not allow for a sustained pace.

However, it was again Thuram, in the 85th minute, who found the goal to give Inter a momentary lead, assisted by Davide Frattesi, with a lob that went past the opposing goalkeeper.

In the final minutes of the match a significant recovery was granted.

And it is precisely in these moments that a mistake by defender Yann Aurel Bisseck, who touched the ball with his arm, caused VAR to detect the penalty kick, was not seen by the match referee.

Junior Messias, a former AC Milan player, appeared on the spot and while his shot was initially blocked by Sommer, he pounced on the for the equalizer which dashed the hope of FC Internazionale to acquire the first three points of the season.

The match ended at 2-2, showing defensive fragility from the current champions, which represents something new considering that last season it was appreciated precisely for its solidity.

On the next matchday of the Serie A, Inter Milan will face Lecce in their home stadium on Saturday, Aug. 24.