Johan Vásquez's Genoa started with a draw against the current champion

The Genoa of the Mexican defender Johan Vasquez got off to a good start in the 2024-2025 Serie A season by earning a valuable point after surprising current Calcio champions Inter Milan with a thrilling draw (2-2).

With the Aztec on the bench in this first match of the season, the team led by Alberto Gilardino managed to spoil the party for Inter, who was very close to starting with a victory if it weren’t for a penalty awarded in added time that sealed the final draw.

With Johan Vásquez back on the pitch after coming on in the 60th minute in place of Italian Alessandro Vogliacco, Genoa responded to their rival’s comeback, which, thanks to a double from French striker Marcus Thuram, took control of the scoreboard at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa.

The home side had taken the lead through Vogliacco in the 20th minute after a rebound from a free-kick. Morten Frendrup’s header ended up hitting the crossbar and the Italian appeared on the rebound to easily beat Yann Sommer.

But the joy would not last long for the Mexican defender’s team, as 10 minutes later Thuram scored the first goal. The Frenchman headed in a cross from the right launched by Nicolo Barella to change the trajectory of the ball and put the score at 1-1 (m.30).

Things did not change again until the end of the match, when Thuram himself took charge of putting the reigning Calcio champions ahead. The French striker finished with a touch over the goalkeeper after a through ball from Davide Frattesi that left him one-on-one with Pierluigi Gollini (m.82).

However, Genoa were not going to leave empty-handed and managed to avoid defeat in added time, but not before adding a little more excitement to the match that opened the new season of Italian football. Brazilian Junior Messias became the main protagonist.

After a penalty was awarded in favour of the home team in the fifth minute of added time, the South American was the one in charge of taking the penalty kick. His shot, to the centre, was stopped by Sommer, but on the rebound Messias himself sent it home to seal the final 2-2.

The Brazilian’s goal sent the crowd at the Luigi Ferraris stadium into a frenzy of excitement as he snatched victory from Inter Milan at the last minute and began the new season of Calcio, where Genoa will be looking to fight for places in European competition.

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