Abdelhamid El Kaoutari strike downs Genoa

Abdelhamid El Kaoutari scored a stoppage-time winner as Palermo began their Serie A campaign with a 1-0 victory over Genoa.

Goran Pandev threatened early on for the visitors with a fierce drive that was kept out by Stefano Sorrentino.

The Macedonian was involved again moments later when he fired in another powerful effort that was forced behind by the keeper.

Midway through the first half it was Palermo who almost broke the deadlock, but Luca Rigoni's strike came crashing off the bar.

They hit the woodwork again late in the second half, as Franco Vazquez rifled a shot from the edge of the box against the bar.

Palermo did manage to find the net in added time when a loose ball dropped kindly to El Kaoutari at the back post, and the Moroccan made no mistake to fire a low drive past the keeper to seal the three points.