Serie A strugglers Genoa will look to halt their alarming slide when they host in-form Fiorentina at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Thursday evening. The home side find themselves mired in the relegation zone after picking up just one point from their last five league matches, while Fiorentina come into the game riding a five-game winning streak across all competitions.
Genoa’s return to Serie A after a one-year absence has not gone according to plan, as Alberto Gilardino’s men sit 18th in the table with just six points from nine matches. Their most recent outing saw them comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Lazio, extending a miserable run that has seen them earn fewer points and concede more goals than any other team since the start of September.
Goals have been particularly hard to come by for the Grifone, who have found the net just seven times in league play. In an effort to jumpstart their sputtering attack, the club made headlines this week by signing controversial striker Mario Balotelli on a free transfer. However, the former Italy international is not expected to feature on Thursday as he works to regain match fitness.
Instead, the goalscoring burden will once again fall to Andrea Pinamonti. The 25-year-old leads Genoa with three Serie A goals this term and has a strong track record against Fiorentina, having scored against them for three different clubs previously. Pinamonti will need to be at his clinical best if Genoa hope to claim their first league win at the Marassi this season.
In stark contrast to their opponents, Fiorentina enter Thursday’s clash brimming with confidence after a scintillating run of form. Raffaele Palladino’s side have won five consecutive matches across all competitions, scoring an astounding 19 goals in the process.
Their most recent outing saw them dismantle fellow top-six contenders Roma in a 5-1 rout, with Moise Kean bagging a brace and Edoardo Bove starring against his parent club. The emphatic victory moved Fiorentina to within two points of second-placed Inter Milan as they continue to exceed expectations in Palladino’s first season at the helm.
The Viola have been particularly impressive away from home of late, losing just one of their last six Serie A road fixtures while keeping clean sheets in their last two. They’ll be eyeing a third straight away win over Genoa, which would mark their longest ever winning run in this fixture.
The outcome of this match could hinge on whether Genoa’s beleaguered backline can withstand Fiorentina’s red-hot attack. The home side have conceded 20 goals in just nine matches, while Fiorentina have scored 11 times in their last two outings alone.
Moise Kean will be the danger man for the visitors after his brace against Roma took his tally to six goals in his last 10 matches for club and country. The 23-year-old’s movement and clinical finishing will pose a stern test for Genoa’s makeshift defense.
Team News
Genoa’s injury woes have played a significant role in their struggles, with no fewer than seven first-team players set to miss out on Thursday. First-choice goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini joins Junior Messias, Mattia Bani, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Vitinha, Koni De Winter and Caleb Ekuban on the sidelines. Captain Milan Badelj could provide a boost after returning to the bench last weekend following a muscular issue.
Fiorentina will be without former Genoa striker Albert Gudmundsson, as well as Rolando Mandragora and Marin Pongracic due to injury. Rising star Pietro Comuzzo is also a doubt after spraining his ankle in the win over Roma. With a busy fixture list on the horizon, Palladino may opt to rotate his squad to keep players fresh.
Expected Starting XIs
Genoa: Leali; Sabelli, Vogliacco, Vasquez, Matturro; Zanoli, Badelj, Frendrup, Martin; Miretti; Pinamonti
Fiorentina: De Gea; Dodo, Martinez Quarta, Ranieri, Gosens; Adli, Richardson; Colpani, Beltran, Bove; Kean
Match Prediction
While Genoa will be desperate for points in front of their home fans, it’s difficult to see past Fiorentina given the contrasting form of the two sides. The Viola’s attacking firepower should prove too much for Genoa’s injury-hit squad to handle.
Prediction: Genoa 1-3 Fiorentina
