Chievo host Genoa on Sunday afternoon in a crucial game for new coach Rolando Maran as The Flying Donkeys look to ease their relegation fears with a much needed three points over an improving Genoa side.
Rolando Maran has been charged with turning the home side’s fortunes around following the dismissal of former coach Eugenio Corini. The club’s poor start to the season has left them sitting in the bottom three of the Serie A table with just four points from the first seven matches. A run of five games without a win prompted the hierarchy to act swiftly and appoint former Catania coach Rolando Maran as the new man in charge.
Genoa for their part also had a slow start to the season but are in the midst of a good run of form, having only lost once in their last five games. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be encouraged by recent impressive wins against Lazio and Parma as well as the spirit showed in last weekend’s draw with Empoli. Three points against a Chievo side low in confidence would push them further away from the relegation zone and into mid table safety.
Rolando Maran is expected to stick with most of the side that started last weekend’s expected defeat to Roma. Slovenian centre back Bostjan Cesar could however be recalled to the starting line up. Inter loanee Ruben Botta is still out with an injury and experienced midfielder Mariano Izco is a doubt.
Maxi Lopez and Alberto Paloschi should both play up top as a strike pair and the home faithful will be hoping at least one of them can rediscover their scoring touch. Paloschi in particular has had a subdued start to campaign after scoring a career high 13 league goals last season.
Genoa have a number of injury concerns of their own. Young midfield starlet Stefano Sturaro is out for at least another month. Juraj Kucka, Giannis Fetfatzidis and Tomas Rincon are all facing a race against time to be fit for the game.
The away side will be looking for former Tottenham midfielder Iago Falque and Argentine Diego Perotti to provide much of the flair and creativity in the final third. Alessandro Matri could get the nod over Mauricio Pinilla in the lone striker role.
Expected Starting XIs
Chievo: Bardi; Dainelli, Zukanovic, Cesar; Frey, Radovanovic, Cofie, Hetemaj, Biraghi; Paloschi, Lopez
Genoa: Perin; Roncaglia, Burdisso, Marchese; Antonini, Edenilson, Bertolacci, Antonelli; Perotti, Matri, Iago
