Genoa have ended their run of six successive defeats in Serie A with a 1-0 win against Atalanta away from home.

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The visitors tested the Atalanta defence early in the match, with Andrea Bertolacci trying his luck with a swerving shot only to be denied by Thomas Manfredini.

Marco Borriello then went close for Genoa with a long-range effort that Andrea Consigli brilliantly parried away.

Maximiliano Moralez thought that he had broken the deadlock for Atalanta in the 26th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

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However, it was Genoa who pulled ahead on 39 minutes when Bertolacci picked up a loose ball inside the Atalanta penalty area to shoot home with ease.

Atalanta refused to give in and started the second half brightly and with intensity.

Moralez had Sebastien Frey scampering to clear the ball off the line in the 58th minute and minutes later Cristian Raimondi volleyed wide from close range.

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Genoa went down to 10 men in the 86th minute when defender Emiliano Moretti was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

However, Frey denied German Denis and Raimondi in the final minutes to secure a 1-0 win for the visitors.