Genoa host struggling Hellas Verona on Sunday as the Grifone aim to get back into a European spot with another three points.
A second consecutive Genoa win would bring them back within reach of the Europa League. Earlier in the week, they jumped back into the top half of the table with a victory over Lazio.
That was Genoa’s first win in 2015, what could be a turning point in one of their dimmest period of the season.
They had captured only three points in January and even lost protagonists Alessandro Matri, Luca Antonelli and Stefano Sturaro on January transfer deadline day: a month of transition that derailed much of their early-season success.
One incoming transfer has helped them. AC Milan loanee M’Baye Niang is coming off a man-of-the-match performance against Lazio at the Olimpico, where he drew the decisive penalty. He also scored a hat-trick in a mid-week friendly against Serie D club Lavagnese.
Hellas Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini, on the other hand, is desperately trying to steer his team away from the relegation zone. The Gialloblu have lost three of their last four Serie A matches, scoring just three times over that span.
The previous fixture between the two sides ended 2–2 at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. Matri scored a first-half brace back in September, while Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Artur Ionita struck back for Verona.
But the past five games in the series have favoured Genoa, who have won two, drawn two and lost just once to Verona.
Both sides should play a full-hearted game at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, as they are relatively healthy. New Genoa signing Leonardo Pavoletti is being evaluated for a muscle injury. Giovanni Marchese is a doubt, while Tino Costa is rehabbing from a month-long layoff.
Still absent from Hellas Verona are Jacopo Sala and Guillermo Rodriguez. Ex-Monaco player Mounir Obbadi will return as well as Bosko Jankovic, who could face his old club.
Form Guide: Genoa (L-D-L-D-W) Hellas Verona (W-L-W-L-L)
Expected Starting XIs:
Genoa (3-4-3): Perin; De Maio, Burdisso, Roncaglia; Bergdich, Kucka, Bertolacci, Edenilson; Niang, Perotti, Iago
Hellas Verona (4-3-3): Benussi; Brivio, Moras, Marquez, Pisano; Hallfredsson, Tachtsidis, Greco; Christodoulopoulos, Toni, Gomez
