Mario Balotelli makes first Serie A appearance in four years as Genoa defeats Parma

Mario Balotelli made his first Serie A appearance in four years when he came on as a late substitute in Genoa’s 1-0 win over Parma on Monday.

Genoa’s Mario Balotelli looks on during Genoa warm up during the Serie A match between Parma and Genoa. | Photo Credit: AP

Mario Balotelli made his first Serie A appearance in four years when he came on as a late substitute in Genoa’s 1-0 win over Parma on Monday and earned a yellow card within five minutes.

Balotelli came on in the 86th minute and was booked in injury time for a foul.

The former Italy international signed with relegation-threatened Genoa last week, having last played in Italy’s top division with hometown club Brescia in 2019-20.

Parma’s winless streak reached nine games with the loss, even though the host had the best of the first half with Valentin Mihaila and Anas Haj Mohamed coming close to opening the scoring.

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But Genoa took control after the break as Morten Thorsby had a goal disallowed after 49 minutes and Andrea Pinamonti hit the post shortly after. Pinamonti scored the winner with 11 minutes remaining when he slotted home the rebound from Jeff Ekhator’s low shot.

It was Genoa’s first win since beating Monza on Aug. 24 and moves it off the bottom of the standings and into 17th place. Parma is 15th.

Also, Empoli earned its first home win of the Italian league season after a goal two minutes into the second half from Pietro Pellegri was enough to beat Como 1-0.

The on-loan Torino striker took advantage of poor defending before driving into the penalty box and scoring from an angle.

It was Empoli’s first goal at home this season. The club has scored only eight times in 11 matches but is still in 11th place in Serie A thanks to a strong defense that has conceded just nine times.

Como stayed in 16th.

Lazio beats Cagliari

Lazio beat Cagliari 2-1 thanks to a late penalty from Mattia Zaccagni.

The home side was gifted the lead after just two minutes when Simone Scuffet spilled Luca Pellegrini’s free kick right at the feet of Boulaye Dia, giving him easiest of finishes to notch his eighth goal of the season.

Zito Luvumbo equalized for Cagliari four minutes before halftime when the Angolan striker spun and his shot took a deflection that wrongfooted the Lazio keeper and rolled into the net.

Zaccagni then made no mistake from the spot with 14 minutes remaining after Pellegrini was felled by Nadir Zortea.

Two Cagliari players were sent off shortly afterward as Yerry Mina was first shown a second booking for a foul and Ndary Adopo also earned a second yellow for complaining about the decision.

The win lifts Lazio into fifth place, a point above Juventus and level with Fiorentina and Atalanta. Cagliari remains in 16th.