Four Serie A sides Genoa, Torino, Livorno and Cagliari fell at the first hurdle in the Coppa Italia to lower-league opposition. Genoa thought they might have done enough to avoid an embarrassing early exit to lowly Spezia when Francesco Lodi forced extra time in Liguria - but it was the Serie B side who triumphed on penalties. Italy striker Alberto Gilardino opened the scoring on the west co...Full Story »

Atalanta and Bologna shared two goals to get the point both were looking for in a low-key 1-1 draw at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. After a dull first 45 minutes in which both sides appeared happy enough running the clock down and taking a point each, Atalanta emerged for the second half with a bit more motivation. Luigi Giorgi gave them the lead midway through the second period, but Alb...Full Story »

Two of Serie A's mid-table clubs, Bologna and Sampdoria, played out a 1-1 draw at the Renato Dall'Ara after Gianluca Sansone cancelled out Alberto Gilardino's first half strike. With the two sides sitting 12th and 14th, neither came into the match with much to play for, safe from the threat of relegation with little chance of challenging for a European place. The home side were without suspend...Full Story »

Bologna picked up three vital Serie A points with a 3-0 victory in a relegation scrap with Palermo which included four red cards. Alberto Gilardino put Stefano Pioli's side in front in the 22nd minute with Manolo Gabbiadini making it two from the penalty spot just before half time. Another penalty scored by Alessandro Diamanti early in the second half completed the scoring, but the referee's w...Full Story »

Bologna striker Alberto Gilardino is back to his clinical best and ready to prove a point against his former club Fiorentina. The ex-Parma man flourished after joining La Viola for almost 15million euros in 2008, going on to score almost 50 goals for the Tuscan giants. But when his mentor, Cesare Prandelli, left the Stadio Artemio Franchi to take charge of Italy in 2010, Gilardino's form took ...Full Story »

Welsh side The New Saints have been eliminated from the Champions League in the second qualifying round after a 3-0 second-leg defeat to Helsingborg. TNS earned a creditable goalless draw in the first leg but fell behind after only eight minutes when Walid Atta scored from Jere Uronen's corner. Thomas Sorum made it 2-0 before half-time and Alvaro added a late third for the Allsvenska outfit. Full Story »

Genoa striker Alberto Gilardino admits he will have to put emotions to one side when he faces his former club Fiorentina on Sunday. The Italy international will play against the Viola for the first time since leaving the Tuscan outfit in January to join Genoa. "I spent three important years of my career in Florence," Gilardino said. "I played in Europe with them, scored 59 goals with the Viola...Full Story »

Genoa coach Pasquale Marino could hand a debut to new signing Alberto Gilardino when they visit Cagliari. Marino, who will be taking charge of Genoa for the first time, is considering springing a surprise by throwing the striker in to the action from the start. Gilardino joined Genoa from Fiorentina this week and has signed a contract until June 2016. "I like challenges," Gilardino said. "My ...Full Story »

Siena and Fiorentina shared the spoils in a keenly-contested Tuscan derby which ended goalless at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Siena came closest to breaking the deadlock with Emanuele Calaio hitting the crossbar in the first half, but the fact there were five yellow cards on either side illustrates how competitive the game was. The result does not help either club, who remain in the bottom hal...Full Story »

Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino is upbeat about his team's chances of getting a result at Inter Milan in their Serie A clash. The Viola ended a three-match winless run with a 3-0 triumph over eight-man Roma in Florence last time out to climb to 10th place. Delio Rossi's team have yet to win away from home this season but last week's result has left spirits high. "I am convinced we can ge...Full Story »