Genoa earned a point late with a 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona, despite the hosts ending the match a man down after Luca Pellegrini went off injured.

Milan Badelj scored deep into injury time to extend his side's unbeaten run to seven games under new coach Davide Ballardini.

The port side came back twice, with Ivan Ilic putting Verona ahead after quarter of an hour, before Eldor Shomurodov levelled three minutes after the break.

Marco Davide Faraoni fired in Verona's second from an angle after the hour.

Genoa played the final quarter of an hour a man down after Pellegrini limped off with all substitutions made.

But just as it looked as if the visitors would end their away win drought Badelj blasted in the equaliser to continue 11th-placed Genoa's revival from 19th when Ballardini took over two months ago.

Kevin Lasagna missed two chances with only the goalkeeper to beat as Verona, in ninth, saw their European hopes fade.

"It was a great point against a strong team with players from the national side like Lasagna and (Mattia) Zaccagni," said Ballardini.

Bologna held on for a 1-1 draw against Sassuolo despite playing over an hour a man down after Scottish left-back Aaron Hickey was sent off for a foul on Mert Muldur.

Roberto Soriano put Bologna ahead after 17 minutes following a Sassuolo defensive blunder before losing Hickey after half an hour.

Francesco Caputo got a point for eighth-placed Sassuolo seven minutes after the break.

At the top of the table, leaders Inter and AC Milan, one point behind in second, renew their duel for pole position on Sunday in the San Siro.

Champions Juventus, in fifth, play catch-up at home against lowly Crotone on Monday.

R. Soriano

Achievements