Genoa vs Sassuolo: A Crucial Serie A Encounter

Hoping to create some distance from the Serie A relegation zone, Genoa will host Sassuolo at Stadio Communale Luigi Ferraris on Sunday. Il Grifone are looking to rebound from consecutive defeats, while I Neroverdi aim to build on their recent victory. This match promises to be a tense affair with significant implications for both sides.

Genoa’s Fight for Survival

Daniele De Rossi took the reins as Genoa boss in November, stepping in after Patrick Vieira left the club struggling at the bottom of the table. After a challenging start, Il Grifone now sit 14th in the league, but with only 33 points, they remain precariously close to the drop zone, just six points ahead of 18th-placed Lecce.

Recent form has been mixed, with three losses in their last five outings, including back-to-back defeats: 2-0 against Udinese on March 20th and a 2-0 loss on the road against Juventus on Monday. However, Genoa has shown resilience, with wins against Inter Milan and other competitive teams. Their home record at the Marassi is encouraging, boasting four wins in their last six matches, including a 2-1 victory over De Rossi’s former club, Roma.

Sassuolo’s Mid-Table Ambitions

Fabio Grosso’s Sassuolo are no longer in contention for European football, but their first season back in the top flight has been commendable. Last Saturday, I Neroverdi followed up a 1-1 draw with Juventus with a 2-1 victory over Cagliari, thanks to goals from Ulisses Garcia and Andrea Pinamonti. This win places Grosso’s side 10th in the table with 42 points, 15 points behind sixth-placed Roma with only seven games remaining.

Despite their solid position, Sassuolo’s away form has been inconsistent, with only two wins in their last nine away games. They haven’t secured a clean sheet on the road since a 3-0 win against Atalanta in early November, raising concerns about their ability to contain a motivated Genoa side.

Team News & Predicted Lineups

Genoa will be without Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Maxwell Cornet due to hamstring and muscle injuries, respectively. Mikael Egill Ellertsson and Aaron Martin are likely to fill in on the wings, supporting Junior Messias, Vitinha, and Lorenzo Colombo up front. Jean Onana is sidelined with a muscular issue, with Morten Frendrup and Ruslan Malinovsky expected to control the midfield.

Sassuolo are missing centre-back Filippo Romagna with a knee injury, while Edoardo Pieragnolo and Fali Cande are doubts due to muscle injuries. Ulisses Garcia could potentially operate on the left of a back four alongside Jay Idzes, Tarik Muharemovic, and Sebastian Walukiewicz. Nemanja Matic will partner with Kristian Thorstvedt in midfield, with Daniel Boloca still recovering from a meniscus tear.

Genoa Possible Starting Lineup:

Billow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez; Ellertsson, Frendrup, Malinovsky, Martin; Messias, Vitinha; Colombo

Sassuolo Possible Starting Lineup:

Muric; Walukiewicz, Muharemovic, Idzes, Garcia; Berardi, Thorstvedt, Matic, Lauriente; Pinamonti, Volpato

Prediction

Genoa, despite recent setbacks, have a strong home record and will be determined to secure points in their fight against relegation. Sassuolo, while comfortable in mid-table, may lack the same urgency. A closely contested match is expected, with Genoa having a slight edge.

For more in-depth data analysis, including predicted results and scorelines, visit WhoScored.com.

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