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Diego Milito's hat-trick sent Genoa on their way to a sixth consecutive home victory, but Reggina were dangerous before Costa's red card.
The Rossoblu had a 100 per cent home record to protect against a bottom of the table side that had lost all its away games this season and hadn't even scored on its travels since August 31. Sokratis Papastathopoulos returned, though Matteo Paro, Omar Milanetto and Francesco Modesto were still sidelined. Reggina made the trip without Antonio Giosa, Gleison Santos and Emmanuel Cascione.
Costa got an elbow to the eyebrow from Giuseppe Sculli and required treatment to stem the bleeding, but the referee considered it to be accidental.
Reggina created a good move that finished with Rubinho saving Franco Brienza's low finish after fine build-up from Ciccio Cozza. Cozza also went close himself from distance and Brienza gathered a poorly cleared free kick to skim the upright, as Genoa struggled to create much in the opening stages.
When the Rossoblu did go forward, they certainly did damage, as Raffaele Palladino launched a laser-guided swerver from 20 metres that cracked against the underside of the bar! Sculli got the rebound, but was offside.
Rubinho had to rush out to smother at Bernardo Corradi's feet from six yards, but Reggina shot themselves in the foot. In first half stoppages Costa received a second yellow card for a very high and late sliding tackle on Giuseppe Biava.
On 54 minutes Barreto and Valdez clumsily sandwiched substitute Andrea Gasbarroni for a penalty, which Diego Milito converted by sending Campagnolo the wrong way for his seventh goal of the season.
Genoa should have put the win beyond doubt, but both Gasbarroni and Antony Vanden Borre incredibly failed to get the easy tap-in on the same cross.
Moments later a marvellous Milito curler was fingertipped round the far post by Campagnolo. From the Rossi corner, an Ivan Juric header back in was redirected by Milito from five yards to double their advantage.
Milito didn't score the third, but he created it, going on the counter to skip past several players and cut back for Sculli's angled drive from 10 yards.
Milito got his hat-trick in the final minute, using his strength to shake off a defender and pounce on a wayward shot to turn in from point-blank range when he was practically on the ground.
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