Caleb Ekuban played a central role in a pulsating comeback as Genoa overturned a two-goal deficit to edge Bologna 3–2 in a dramatic Serie A encounter at the Luigi Ferraris on Sunday.
Bologna were the sharper side for much of the opening half and their early control was eventually rewarded. In the 35th minute, Argentine wide man Benjamín Domínguez carved open the Genoa defence before laying the ball perfectly into the path of Lewis Ferguson, who made no mistake in firing the visitors ahead. That strike separated the two teams at the break, with Bologna carrying a deserved advantage into halftime.
⏹️ FT | Genoa 3-2 Bologna pic.twitter.com/znK3xmnVtw
— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) January 25, 2026
Any hopes Genoa had of a swift response were dented almost immediately after the restart. Bologna sustained their pressure and forced a second goal in the 47th minute when Jens Odgaard’s dangerous effort was unintentionally diverted into his own net by defender Sebastian Otoa, leaving the home side staring at a daunting two-goal deficit.
The complexion of the match changed completely soon after, however, when Bologna were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski. With the numerical advantage, Genoa sensed opportunity, and seized it.
Ruslan Malinovskyi ignited belief inside the Ferraris in the 62nd minute, bending a sublime free kick beyond the reach of the replacement goalkeeper to halve the deficit and swing momentum firmly in Genoa’s favour.
🎯 Ruslan Malinovskyi 😱#GenoaBologna pic.twitter.com/2SWWhNqbtV
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA) January 26, 2026
From there, the hosts poured forward with renewed intensity. Introduced from the bench, Caleb Ekuban wasted little time in making his presence felt. The striker’s alert movement and composure paid off in the 78th minute when he pounced inside the area to drill home the equaliser, sending the home crowd into raptures.
With Bologna clinging on and Genoa pressing relentlessly, the contest appeared headed for a draw, until a flash of inspiration decided it. Deep into stoppage time, Junior Messias produced a moment of sheer ingenuity, delicately scooping the ball into the net to seal a sensational turnaround and complete Genoa’s comeback.
The victory propels Genoa up to 13th place on the Serie A standings with 23 points from 22 matches, while Bologna remain eighth on 30 points after a painful afternoon they will be eager to forget.
The goal marked Ekuban’s second of the league campaign, taking his tally to two strikes from 17 Serie A appearances this season, an impactful contribution on a day Genoa will long remember.
