Currently it’s game on in Genoa as the Grifone host cash-strapped Parma at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Parma’s last Serie A match with Udinese was postponed due to the club’s ongoing financial problems.
This week has revolved all around the Crociati’s continued meltdown with the most recent being that they cannot pay their laundry service anymore.
Genoa on the other hand are unbeaten in five of their last six fixtures. The Grifone drew with city rivals Sampdoria in the Derby della Lanterna on Tuesday night after the game had been rained out on its original date.
Genoa are currently undefeated in their last six fixtures with Parma including winning their first meeting this season 2-1.
Genoa have rebounded after a disastrous January and have found a solid attacking three in Iago Falque, Diego Perotti and M’Baye Niang.
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has employed a false nine since the club cancelled top scorer Alessandro Matri’s loan. Niang has emerged in recent weeks and has proved an integral part of Gasperini’s new attack.
Genoa will have Tino Costa still missing, but the team will have their key players intact for Parma’s visit.
Despite being in last place and having a week from Hell, Parma drew their last match against Roma. The Crociati looked good against the Romans and had opportunities to win late on.
Like Genoa, Parma will have no players missing through suspension.
Parma are second bottom in goals scored this season with 20. Five of those goals came from Antonio Cassano who left the club in January. The club have had difficulty finding goals elsewhere.
While Genoa also lost their leading goal scorer, Matri, in January, the club now have Marco Borriello in the team. Though not completely fit, Borriello played the final minutes of Tuesday’s derby.
The former Roma man will be continually eased into the side as he tries to find fitness and Genoa’s current attacking three limit their mistakes.
Gasperini has settled on a regular side in recent weeks as well as sticking with a midfield four he has grown comfortable with.
Juraj Kucka and Andrea Bertolacci have been the two deployed in the engine room of the midfield four. Both have excelled while El Generalissimo Tomas Rincon has been solid down the right side.
With Parma in financial meltdown, a statement was released today in which the teams will take the field 15 minutes later than the scheduled kick-off. Teams around Serie A are reportedly doing the same as teams and players show solidarity with Parma’s plight.
Form guide: Genoa: (D-L-D-W-W-D) Parma (L-L-L-L-L-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Genoa: Perin, Roncaglia, Burdisso, De Maio, Rincon, Kucka, Bertolacci, Edenilson, Falque, Perotti, Niang
Parma: Mirante, Cassani, Costa, Lucarelli, Gobbi, Mauri, Mariga, Nocerino, Varela, Rodriguez, Palladino
