Genoa 2 : 0 Palerm - Genoa avoid drop

Genoa preserved their Serie A status on the final day of the season with a 2-0 win over Palermo behind closed doors at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Knowing they might need a point to avoid relegation, Genoa secured a more convincing outcome with two second-half goals downing Sicilians Palermo.

Giuseppe Sculli and Alberto Gilardino scored for the Rossoblu, who will be happy to put this season behind them and move on to the next campaign still in Serie A.

Palermo will also be glad to see the back of the 2011/12 campaign after finishing just above the drop zone, although their top-flight status was not under threat.

Genoa began brightly as they took to the field in a deserted stadium.

No fans were allowed access due to their protests which almost forced the abandonment of Genoa's recent game at home to Siena.

Even without their fans behind them, Genoa were the more enterprising of the two strugglers early on.

But the first big chance fell to Palermo midway through the first half with Igor Budan sending Agon Mehmeti through, Sebastien Frey making an instinctive save to deny him.

Genoa stepped up their search for a goal in the second half and made the breakthrough in the 52nd minute with Gilardino showing his predatory instinct inside the six-yard box to beat Giacomo Brichetto.

The goal settled Genoa's nerves somewhat and it was only a matter of time before they added a second.

Sculli scored it in the 70th minute, benefiting from a fortunate rebound as his first attempt to lob Palermo's substitute goalkeeper Brichetto fell kindly for him to head into the open goal.

As the news filtered through that relegation rivals Lecce had fallen behind to Chievo, Genoa knew they would not be going down and both sides played down the clock.