GENOA starting XI (3-5-2): Gollini, Vogliacco (subbed for Vasquez), Bani, De Winter, Zanoli (subbed for Sabelli), Frendrup, Badelj (subbed for Ekhator), Malinovskyi (subbed for Thorsby), Martin, Vitinha, Messias

Bench: Leali, Sommariva, Pittino, Ahanor, Bohinen, Accornero, Masini, Papadopoulos, Fini

Goals: Vogliacco 20’, Messias 90+5’

INTER starting XI (3-5-2): Sommer, Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni, Darmian (subbed for Dumfries), Barella, Calhanoglu (subbed for Taremi), Mkhitaryan (subbed for Frattesi), Dimarco (subbed for Carlos Augusto), Lautaro Martinez (subbed for Asllani), Thuram

Bench: Josep Martinez, Di Gennaro, Pavard, Fontanarosa, Arnautovic, Correa

Goals: Thuram 30’ 82’

A revelation in his first campaign in Italy last season, Thuram netted once in each half in Genoa on Saturday to give Inter the lead after Alessandro Vogliacco’s surprise opener.

However, Genoa were awarded a penalty deep in stoppage time and Junior Messias scored from the rebound after Yann Sommer saved his spot kick.

It was a rare Serie A match featuring two coaches who were also in charge of their teams last season. 

Simone Inzaghi’s Inter ran away with the Serie A title last season and looked strong from the start in Genoa, with both Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoğlu having early chances.

But it was Genoa who took the lead in the 20th minute from an unlikely source.

A free kick was headed goalwards, and Sommer appeared to have it under control but fumbled it onto the bar. Vogliacco was quickest to react on the rebound to poke it home.

It was the 25-year-old’s first goal in more than 140 senior matches.

Thuram levelled 10 minutes later when he headed Nicolò Barella’s cross from the right into the far bottom corner.

The visitors came close to taking the lead just before halftime as first Yann Bisseck’s shot was charged down, then Lautaro Martinez’s follow-up was parried by Genoa goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini before Federico Dimarco saw his effort on the rebound headed off the line by Milan Badelj.

Dimarco had a goal ruled out for offside after the break and the flag went up again when Thuram had the ball in the back of the net six minutes from time with a delicious chip over Gollini. But it was adjudged to be onside on VAR review.

Inter appeared to be heading for the win but in stoppage time the Genoa bench were on their feet appealing for a handball. Another pitch side review deemed that Bisseck had indeed handled the ball as he tried to head it clear.

AAP