Genoa won with a fraction of the chances they usually create

Venezia created far more at Luigi Ferraris, yet a 25th-minute goal from Mikael Ellertsson was all Genoa needed.

Genoa won 1-0 at home, but the way they won tells you more than the scoreline. Their chances, measured by expected goals (xG), a figure that adds up how likely each shot was to go in, came to 0.41. That is well short of the 0.95 they usually reach at home, so this was a win built on very little.

Venezia were the side that made the chances. Their 20 shots were well above the 13.6 they average on the road, and the league average sits at 14 per side. Their xG of 1.73 was also higher than their usual 1.34, and 11 of their efforts came from inside the penalty area, where goals are most likely.

The goal came in the 25th minute. Mikael Ellertsson finished after a pass from Stephan El Shaarawy, and that was the only goal of the afternoon. Genoa were not dominant on the ball either, with 45% possession, which is almost exactly the 45.6% they normally keep at home.

Venezia had the ball as they usually do, with 55% against a usual 54.1%, so their possession was ordinary. What was out of the ordinary was the return. Their chances came in volume and quality, yet they had nothing to show for it, and a fair share of their efforts were blocked before they could trouble the goalkeeper. Eight of their shots were stopped in that way.

Genoa's defensive numbers are the reverse of Venezia's attacking ones. They conceded one goal, against a usual 1.9 at home, and the goalkeeper J. Bijlow made five saves to keep the scoreline where it was. He was the difference between a narrow win and a heavy defeat, because Venezia kept testing him from close range.

Venezia's most dangerous outlet was M. Dagasso, who had three shots and four key passes, the sort that lead directly to a shooting opportunity. Venezia kept creating while the scoreboard stayed still, and the finishing did not come. Genoa, by contrast, had only seven shots, under their usual 10.9, yet took the one that mattered.

After the match, the table has Genoa 17th on four points and Venezia 20th on three. Genoa leave with a win built on a small amount of attacking, and Venezia leave with the chances and nothing else.

Player of the matchM. Ellertsson1 goal8.0

J. Bijlow5 saves7.8

S. El Shaarawy1 assist7.6

J. Vásquez2 duels won7.4