A closer look at the upcoming fixture between Genoa and AS Roma could throw up plenty of narratives. For starters, the last time Genoa took a point at home against their visitors was also their current manager Daniele De Rossi’s, final game for the capital club as their coach, and now he is tasked with keeping his team up in Serie A as he takes on the side he played his entire career for.
Genoa sit three points above the relegation zone, and with the number of games yet to be played, they are in real danger of slipping down. While they have recorded only one win in their last five Serie A games, De Rossi’s side does have a good record at home, winning three of their last four on home soil. Now, the Italian tactician prepares to take on one of the most experienced managers in Gian Piero Gasperini and his former side.
Over the last few seasons, the top-four race in Serie A has been an entertaining prospect, and it once again promises plenty this term. The title race is well beyond Roma’s reach at this moment, but the top-four chase is very much in their hands, as they held their ground in an entertaining draw at home to Juventus last time out.
The game ended in a 3-3 scoreline, although the storyline squarely points to Roma squandering a two-goal lead, as Juventus’s Federico Gatti secured a draw with an equaliser at the death. While the capital club are still in control of their fate, as they are three points ahead of fifth-placed Como, there is also a threat from the Serie A high-flyers as well as Juventus and Atalanta, who could chase them down if there are slip-ups.
Daniele De Rossi may have to select his lineup without the injured duo of Benjamin Siegrist and Albert Gronbaek. Further reports are also pointing towards Sebastian Otoa and Roma loanee Tommaso Baldanzi being out with injury issues, while the participation of Brooke Norton-Cuffy is slightly doubtful for this clash.
There will be a late assessment on the full-back to determine whether he is fit for the game, as De Rossi hopes he can feature. The potential absence of Baldanzi could see De Rossi use Mikael Ellertsson in midfield alongside Morten Frendrup and Ruslan Malinovskyi.
In that scenario, left-back Aaron Martin will feature on the wing, while a back three of Alessandro Marcandalli, Johan Vasquez and Leo Ostigard will stabilise the defensive setup. Key attacker Lorenzo Colombo will lead the line, with Caleb Ekuban alongside him in a front-two setting.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vazquez; Norton-Cuffy, Ellertsson, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo
The big news coming out of the AS Roma camp is Paulo Dybala’s imminent knee surgery, which will be a blow for the team for the remainder of the campaign. The capital club are also missing strikers Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk for this encounter and probably for a few more weeks.
January arrival Donyell Malen will once again assume the role of the main striker, and in the context of his current form, his position remains unchallenged at the moment.
There is still no clarity on key attacker Matias Soule’s involvement as he continues to struggle with a groin issue, while centre-back Mario Hermoso is also a doubt. Gasperini will also set up in a 3-5-2 shape, with a back three of Evan Ndicka, Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi, and Zeki Celik and Devyne Rensch in the wing-back roles.
The latter could be in line for selection as Wesley is suspended for this clash. Soule will pair up with Malen up top, with Gian Piero Gasperini setting up his midfield with Lorenzo Pellegrini, Neil El Aynaoui, and Bryan Cristante.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Svilar; Ndicka, Mancini, Ghilardi; Celik, Pellegrini, El Aynaoui, Cristante, Rensch; Malen, Soule
The January arrival from Aston Villa has hit the ground running in no time, and given his current form, AS Roma are likely to make this signing permanent. With six goals in his seven Serie A games so far, Malen is probably Roma’s, or even the league’s, most in-form attacker, and he will have the spotlight in this upcoming game against Genoa.
With the stakes now centred on a top-four place, Roma are short of strikers owing to the injuries suffered by Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk. Hence, Malen has far more responsibility on his shoulders to deliver consistently, and he has shown that he can with his goalscoring exploits on Gasperini’s side. He will be the dangerman Genoa have to manage.
Genoa are in a good vein of form in home games over the last few weeks and could rely on that to try and get a result against AS Roma. However, there is big pressure on them and their manager, Daniele De Rossi, to deliver a positive result, while Roma’s quality could prove decisive in this encounter.
AS Roma are the favourites to take three points from this game, and they might just do that. The capital club have the form and momentum to add to the pressure on Genoa, as in-form stars like Malen could prove crucial in getting the job done.
