The hosts started strongly and had a penalty shout inside the early stages - Morten Frendrup’s tug on Dodo’s shirt was enough for the VAR to send the on-field referee to the monitor, but he defied common precedent and stuck with his original decision.
La Viola were not disappointed for long though, as Moise Kean produced a wonderful, distinctive flick towards goal that found its way into the net on nine minutes.
Connecting with Rolando Mandragora’s free-kick, the striker netted his 13th league goal this season to stay very much in the Golden Boot race, with only one player having managed more in SA this term.
On the half-hour mark, Fiorentina doubled their lead through ex-Genoa player Albert Gudmundsson, whose shot deflected in after he connected with Robin Gosens’ cross.
The visitors really ought to have pulled one back before half-time though, as Maxwel Cornet could only curl over the bar from such a promising position after being fed through by Morten Thorsby.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, Genoa pulled a goal back through Koni De Winter, as he headed home Aaron Martin’s corner.
The visitors pushed for a swift second as the pendulum started to swing in their favour, but Fabio Miretti’s strike from the edge of the box flew just past the near post.
Despite being pegged back, Fiorentina were still dangerous on the counter as Gosens bombed forward again and unleashed a great cross to find Dodo, whose header was blocked on the line by Johan Vasquez.
Down the other end, De Winter almost netted his brace after connecting with another corner, but this time his header was pushed away by David de Gea.
Genoa’s late push for an equaliser was ultimately not enough, as they fell to just a second defeat in six league places, keeping them in 12th place in the table while Fiorentina rise into the top-five, just a point adrift of Juventus in fourth having played a game fewer.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Robin Gosens (Fiorentina)