VERONA, Italy (Interstat) — Genoa opened its Serie A campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona on Sunday, defying a pregame statistical projection that favored a draw at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

The match, played on March 15, 2026, was decided by a pair of second-half goals from substitutes, turning the tide after a tightly contested and often physical first half. The result handed the visiting Genoa a winning start to the domestic season, while the home side Verona began with a defeat.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final score, and its ELO rating system gave Genoa a 58.5 percent probability to win. The visitors ultimately exceeded that expectation with a clinical performance after the break.

The first half was marked more by defensive discipline and cautions than clear scoring chances. Genoa’s Daniel Oyegoke was shown a yellow card in the 6th minute for a foul, and teammate Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro followed with a booking in the 31st minute. Verona struggled to break down a organized Genoa backline, failing to register a goal despite playing in front of their home supporters.

The deadlock was broken just past the hour mark, in the 61st minute. The sequence began with defender Akpa Akpro, who played a forward pass to Oyegoke. The forward then delivered the decisive assist, setting up fellow substitute Vitinha, who had entered the match earlier. Vitinha finished the chance calmly to give Genoa a 1-0 lead.

Verona attempted to find an equalizer but was repeatedly frustrated by Genoa’s structure. The match’s physical nature continued as Vitinha, the goalscorer, received a yellow card in the 81st minute for a challenge.

Any lingering hope for a Verona comeback was extinguished five minutes later. In the 86th minute, Vitinha turned provider, orchestrating the play that led to the insurance goal. His work set up another substitute, defender Leo Østigård, who scored to seal the 2-0 victory for the visitors.

The goals underscored the impact of Genoa’s bench, with both scorers and a key assist coming from players who started the match as substitutes. Oyegoke was credited with two assists in the match, playing a part in both Genoa goals.

With the win, Genoa begins its Serie A season with a record of one win and no losses. Verona starts with no wins and one loss. The records across all competitions for both clubs are identical to their initial Serie A standings.