Cesare Bovo's screamer secured the Sicilians' second consecutive victory.

These sides stunned giants last week, as the Rosanero thumped Roma 3-1 on Coach Davide Ballardini's debut and the Grifone beat Milan 2-0. Fabrizio Miccoli was Palermo's inspiration that day, but joined Igor Budan on the treatment table, so Davide Succi made only his second all-time Serie A appearance after one game in 2004-05 for Chievo.

This was a special game for Coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who wore the Palermo jersey between 1978 and '83. Other Sicilian old boys in his side included Giuseppe Biava, Francesco Modesto, Bosko Jankovic and Andrea Gasbarroni, although the latter did not make the trip due to injury.

There were worried faces in the opening minute, as Rubinho accidentally hit his clearance straight at Mark Bresciano, but the defence was able to eventually smother the danger.

Edison Cavani failed to make the most of Francesco Modesto's error, then the Uruguayan should've done better from point-blank range.

Fabio Simlicio fired over after springing the offside trap, but Genoa had a great chance on 33 minutes. Diego Milito placed a splendid curling shot from the edge of the box that clipped the crossbar.

Cavani had gone close before, but made the shot count this time by taking advantage of a defensive error on Fabio Simplicio's searching pass to fire his angled drive past Rubinho at the near post.

Ruben Olivera replaced the disappointing Raffaele Palladino for the second half, as Genoa tried to get back into the game.

However, they didn't count on a moment of magic from Cesare Bovo. A set-piece was cleared out to 30 metres where Bovo unleashed an absolute screamer with his right foot that slotted into the top corner past Rubinho's outstretched hand.

Cavani threatened a third on the counter, but incredibly fired straight at Rubinho in a one-on-one situation.

Genoa pulled one back in stoppages, as Antony Vanden Borre's scuffed cross-shot turned into an assist for Milito to tap in from six yards at the back post.