Genoa have triumphed 2-0 over Cagliari Calcio at the Comunale Luigi Ferraris, courtesy of goals from Alexander Merkel and Ciro Immobile.
The home side had to wait until the second half to take the lead, as Merkel slammed home right-footed from the centre of the area.
Immobile made it two with five minutes remaining when Juraj Kucka had knocked the ball down to him with a header.
Cagliari wasted numerous opportunities to trouble the scoresheet and were punished for their profligacy in front of goal.