Roma Fall to Genoa in Serie A Upset

Genoa beat Roma 2-1

Roma's Champions League hopes take hit as Genoa win at home. Genoa defeat Roma 2-1, with Messias scoring from the spot for the win.

Junior Messias scores third goal of season as Genoa beat Roma...

Genoa stunned Roma with a 2-1 win at home. Messias scored from the spot to lead the charge.

Roma threw away a two-goal lead against Juventus last time out, so they needed this win to get back on track for Champions League qualification. 

The first half was a snooze fest - forgettable as soon as it ended. Roma had the slight edge, but Junior Messias' shot was easily saved by Svilar.

Roma's best chance came via Messias, while Genoa's Devyne Rensch had a wild shot that flew wide. The Giallorossi didn't trouble Biljow once.

After those cagey opening 45 minutes, the game could only improve after the break, and those in attendance were not disappointed as two goals were scored inside the opening 15 minutes.

Genoa started strongly following the restart and won a penalty when Mikael Ellertsson was brought down in the area by Lorenzo Pellegrini, with Messias making no mistake from the spot for his third goal of the season. 

The lead lasted a matter of minutes, though, as Evan Ndicka looped a header into the back of the net just after Gianluca Mancini had seen Genoa’s goalscorer clear his attempt off the line. 

Substitute Lorenzo Colombo did have an acrobatic effort saved by Svilar, but the game eventually settled into the pattern from the first half.

Genoa, though, had the edge, and with one of the few further chances they created, the Grifone grabbed a winner as substitute Vitinha slid in to convert Patrizio Masini’s low cross. 

Genoa with a big win! 👏#GenoaRoma pic.twitter.com/OqeIzI8G7a

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 8, 2026

Despite their best effort, Roma were unable to find an answer, ultimately falling to a result that leaves them just one point ahead of fifth-placed Como ahead of their clash with Cesc Fabregas’ side next week.

Genoa, meanwhile, now have a six-point buffer over the SA relegation places and, with bottom-three side Hellas Verona up next, they will have every confidence of moving further away from trouble.

Junior Messias is the Panini Player of the Match! 🏆#GenoaRoma pic.twitter.com/Jfainssmzo

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 8, 2026