Genoa kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League by easing to a comfortable 3-1 win over Cesena this afternoon.

Iago Falque had the first chance of the match for the hosts, but, after being picked out inside the box by Andrea Bertolacci, he saw his effort saved by the keeper.

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They worked another decent opening when Diego Perotti's cross was turned over the bar from close range by Leonardo Pavoletti.

Cesena almost punished their opponents for those misses when Carlos Carbonero latched onto a loose ball inside the box and drilled an effort inches wide of the far post.

The hosts finally made their pressure count in the 38th minute when Bertolacci met Perotti's cross before heading an effort beyond Federico Agliardi.

In the final minute of the first half, Genoa were awarded a penalty when Constantin Nica brought down Perotti, and the Argentine stepped up to confidently slide home the resulting spot kick.

It took the Rossoblu just eight minutes of the second half to grab their third goal of the match as Pavoletti stretched out a leg to divert a cross from Sebastien De Maio into the bottom corner.

Carbonero managed to pull a goal back for the visitors with a powerful strike into the roof of the net, but it was not enough to inspire a comeback and they ended up finishing the match with 10 men after Ze Eduardo's was shown a straight red card in stoppage time.