Genoa recovered from three goals down to beat Roma 4-3 and increase the pressure on Giallorossi coach Claudio Ranieri in a dramatic encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Philippe Mexes put Roma ahead in the sixth minute before Nicolas Burdisso added a second ten minutes later. Francesco Totti added the third in the 51st minute, but Rodrigo Palacio started Genoa's comeback within two minutes. Alberto Paloschi gave them further hope in the 68th minute before Palacio brought them level six minutes later.

And the two goalscorers combined for the winner in the 85th minute with Paloschi netting his second goal of the game to complete an amazing turnaround and earn Genoa all three points, although they ended the game with ten men after Rafinha was sent off in stoppage time.

Genoa coach Davide Ballardini hailed the club's fans for helping his side. "I have to thank the great warmth shown by our fans," said Ballardini after the game. "They never stopped cheering us, even when we were 3-0 down.

"Supporters like this cannot be found in any other stadium in Italy. We played a great game even when were down by three goals. But I didn't think that we could turn the result around and yet we did. Palacio played a great match and so did the rest of my players."

Roma made a lightning start with Totti's shot in the sixth minute deflected behind for a corner, which he took himself to set up Mexes for a bullet header past Eduardo. Roma's other central defender got on the scoresheet in the 16th minute with Totti again the provider.

We played a great game even when were down by three goals. But I didn't think that we could turn the result around and yet we did.
Davide Ballardini, Genoa coach

This time it was a free-kick which he whipped in venomously from the left and Burdisso needed only to flick the ball into the far corner with his head. Former Genoa striker Borriello then grazed the outside of the far post with his shot after being set up by the omnipresent Totti.

Antonio Floro Flores missed a chance just before the break when he shot straight at Julio Sergio in a one-on-one situation and the Roma goalkeeper made a stunning save to deny him again early in the second half before Roma broke to make it three.

Totti and Borriello worked a two-against-two situation to perfection with Totti first sending Borriello wide then continuing into the centre to receive the ball back and score from eight yards out.

Palacio pulled a goal back for the home team two minutes later when he followed up in the penalty area to send a loose ball past Julio Sergio and Genoa enjoyed a bright spell of pressure with Floro Flores and Marco Rossi both going close to nudging Rafinha's cross in.

Substitute Paloschi gave them hope with a second in the 68th minute as he took Juraj Kucka's pass down with his chest before whipping the ball past Julio Sergio for his first goal for Genoa.

And Palacio completed the comeback in the 74th minute with a looping header which Julio Sergio could not prevent from nestling in the top corner of his goal. Totti should have put Roma ahead again five minutes later, but his shot was stopped on the line by Eduardo after Jeremy Menez's run into the penalty area.

Paloschi grabbed the winner five minutes from time with a simple tap-in after being set up expertly by Palacio. Genoa ended the game with ten men when Rafinha was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time, but few really cared inside the Luigi Ferraris by then after witnessing an unexpected turnaround.