Genoa vs Atalanta Player Ratings: Hien's Goal Secures Narrow Win Against 10-Man Genoa 0-1

Genoa were reduced to ten men after goalkeeper Nicola Leali saw red just under three minutes into the game, a decision that completely reshaped the match. This should have been a straightforward victory for Atalanta, but what followed was anything but simple. The home side showed incredible resilience and a fighting spirit that their manager can be proud of.

Despite their numerical advantage, Atalanta struggled to break down the organized and defiant ten men of Genoa. They dominated possession as expected, but were often wasteful in the final third. Genoa even had moments where they could have snatched an unlikely lead, most notably when Vitinha struck the post early in the second half.

However, Atalanta's determination eventually paid off. The breakthrough came from defender Isak Hien, who found the back of the net to give his side a crucial, 1-0 win. It was a gritty, hard-fought battle where Genoa's defence was commendable, but Atalanta's quality, even when not at its best, ultimately made the difference. Here are Sportsdunia's Genoa vs Atalanta player ratings.

Genoa Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Check out the Genoa player ratings for the Genoa vs Atalanta fixture.

Goalkeeper

Nicola Leali - 1/10: A disastrous start for the keeper. Getting a straight red card after just three minutes for a foul is inexplicable. He completely sabotaged his team's game plan and left them with a mountain to climb. There’s really no other rating that can be given for such a critical error. It was a moment of sheer panic.

Defenders

Johan Vásquez - 7/10: As captain, he led a heroic defensive effort after the red card. He won 7 duels and made 6 crucial clearances. What stood out to us was his communication, constantly organizing the backline under immense pressure. He fought for every ball and showed real leadership.

Alessandro Marcandalli - 7/10: A very solid performance alongside his captain. He won an impressive 80% of his duels and made five clearances. He stayed focused and disciplined, which was vital in keeping Atalanta at bay for so long. A mature display from the defender.

Sebastian Otoa - 7.5/10: We thought he was magnificent. He won all six of his duels, made three successful tackles, and read the game superbly with an interception and five clearances. He was a rock at the back and barely put a foot wrong all game. A standout performer in a losing effort.

Midfielders

Aarón Martín - N/A: The unfortunate sacrificial lamb. He was withdrawn after just five minutes to allow the substitute goalkeeper to come on. It's impossible to rate his performance given he barely had a touch of the ball. Just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy - 7/10: Provided a fantastic cross for Vitinha that led to the woodwork being hit. He was a willing runner and worked tirelessly up and down the right flank, providing both defensive cover and an attacking outlet. He created Genoa’s best chance of the game.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 6/10: He showed flashes of his quality, creating two chances and delivering some dangerous set-pieces. However, he also lost possession 12 times and seemed to fade a bit before he was substituted. A decent but not spectacular outing.

Morten Frendrup - 7.5/10: An absolutely tireless performance in the heart of midfield. His energy was infectious as he covered every blade of grass, making 6 recoveries and winning 6 of his duels. He was the engine for the 10-man side and his work rate was phenomenal.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 7/10: Very tidy and composed on the ball, which was crucial for giving his team a breather. He misplaced very few passes and created a big chance late on with a great cross. A calm head in a chaotic situation.

Forwards

Vitinha - 6.5/10: A frustrating night for the striker. He was a real handful and so unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the post. However, losing possession 25 times is a staggering number. His work rate was there but his final product and decision-making let him down.

Caleb Ekuban - 5.5/10: He tried to put himself about but was largely anonymous. He struggled to get involved in the game and offered very little threat before being substituted. A quiet evening for the forward.

Substitutes

Daniele Sommariva - 7.5/10: Thrown into a crisis situation and performed brilliantly. He made a couple of excellent saves, including one from Éderson and another from Zalewski, to keep his side in the match. He can hold his head high after that performance.

Morten Thorsby - 5/10: Came on and got a yellow card for a dive. Didn't offer much stability.

Lorenzo Colombo - 6/10: Almost became the hero with a header that was fantastically saved. Looked more threatening than Ekuban.

Patrizio Masini - N/A: Came on late for the injured Vitinha and had little time to make an impact.

Manager

D. De Rossi - 7/10: His tactical setup after the red card was almost perfect. His team showed immense character and were incredibly difficult to break down. He'll be disappointed to lose but immensely proud of the fight his players showed.

Atalanta Player Ratings vs Genoa

Check out the Atalanta player ratings for the Genoa vs Atalanta fixture.

Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi - 7/10: He didn't have a huge amount to do, but he was alert when needed. He made a vital save from Lorenzo Colombo's header late in the game to preserve his clean sheet. A solid and reliable performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Isak Hien - 7.5/10: Scored the all-important winning goal, which elevates his rating significantly. Defensively, he was sound for the most part, though he did give away a few fouls. Being the match-winner in a tight game is what counts the most.

Marten de Roon - 8.0/10: Our man of the match. An absolutely colossal performance at the back. He won a staggering 11 out of 15 duels and was a dominant force in the air and on the ground. His distribution was also excellent, controlling the game from deep. Truly a captain's display and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Sead Kolasinac - 7/10: A very strong and composed 82 minutes. He won 80% of his duels and was extremely comfortable in possession, completing 91% of his passes. He provided a great platform for the team to build from on the left side.

Midfielders

Yunus Musah - 7.5/10: A powerhouse in midfield. He was full of energy, winning 9 duels and driving forward with the ball. Musah was one of the few Atalanta players who played with the required intensity from the start. A very impressive, all-action display.

Éderson - 6/10: He got into some great positions and had four shots, but his finishing was poor. He missed a big chance and just couldn't provide that killer touch. His passing was neat and tidy, but he'll be disappointed he didn't get on the scoresheet.

Lorenzo Bernasconi - 6.5/10: A decent outing for the youngster. He created a big chance and looked comfortable on the ball before being substituted. He fulfilled his role without pulling up any trees, providing good width and support.

Davide Zappacosta - 7.5/10: A huge creative outlet in his 69 minutes on the pitch. He delivered four accurate crosses and created two key chances. Genoa's defence really struggled to contain his runs and deliveries from the right flank. A very effective performance.

Forwards

Gianluca Scamacca - 5/10: A night to forget for the big striker. He was wasteful in front of goal, missing the target with all three of his shots. He struggled to impose himself on the game and frequently lost possession. He looked frustrated and off the pace.

Charles De Ketelaere - 5.5/10: He created two chances, but his overall impact was minimal. He was physically dominated, winning only 10% of his duels. We noticed he was too easily pushed off the ball and struggled to find space. A performance that promised more than it delivered.

Daniel Maldini - 6/10: Looked bright and lively during his time on the pitch. He showed some nice touches and tried to make things happen but was substituted before he could make a decisive impact. A promising but ultimately unfulfilling cameo.

Substitutes

Nicola Zalewski - 6/10: Came on and forced a good save from the keeper. Also picked up a yellow card.

Kamaldeen Sulemana - 6/10: Added some pace but couldn't find a way through the defence.

Nikola Krstovic - 5.5/10: Missed a late header from close range.

Marco Brescianini - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

R. Palladino - 6.5/10: His side got the three points, which is the bottom line. However, he'll be concerned by how much they struggled to break down ten men. He made the right changes to eventually find the winner, but it was a laboured victory.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Marten de Roon