Both failing to match expectations this season, Rossoblu rivals Genoa and Bologna will meet at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday afternoon.
After overperforming last term, the clubs now languish in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, with just two league wins between them.
Match preview
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Having signed off for the international break with a humbling 5-1 away defeat to Atalanta BC, an ailing Genoa side sit inside Serie A's drop zone after seven matches of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Ligurian club have lost four of their last five league fixtures - including each of the last three - in addition to exiting the Coppa Italia on penalties to arch-rivals Sampdoria.
As the last time they suffered four top-flight defeats in a row dates back to 2021, when under the failed management of Andriy Shevchenko, pressure is mounting on current boss Alberto Gilardino to stop the rot this weekend.
His team have conceded the most goals in Serie A this season; and of the 15 shipped so far, 12 have come during the second half, perhaps suggesting an issue with either mental or physical fatigue.
Gilardino - who spent one year on loan at Bologna during his playing days - is also searching for a reliable scorer, with former striker Mateo Retegui rubbing salt into the wound by netting a hat-trick in the drubbing against Atalanta.
Genoa are the only side still without any players on more than one goal, and in their desperation they have turned to Mario Balotelli: a deal for the ex-Liverpool striker has apparently been agreed, subject to Gilardino keeping his job.
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Though Genoa are enduring a tough spell at the moment, the Grifone were 2-0 winners when Bologna last arrived at Marassi in May, meaning this week's visitors have won only one of the teams' last 10 Serie A meetings.
Currently sitting three points above Genoa in the table, Bologna are unbeaten in five straight top-flight outings, with their only loss since the end of August coming at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League.
However, following a summer of change, the Felsinei find themselves occupying 13th place in the standings, and new coach Vincenzo Italiano has won just one of nine matches to date - including a derby draw with Parma last time out.
Bologna failed to capitalise on having an extra man for most of the second half, being made to share the spoils at home to their Emilian rivals, and such profligacy often cost Italiano during his time with Fiorentina.
In fact, across Europe's top five leagues, only Juventus have drawn more games than Bologna in 2024; this season, they are level with Lens (both five out of seven) atop that particular table.
Team News
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Alberto Gilardino enters an almost must-win game if he is to survive as Genoa manager without a whole host of important players, while others are struggling for fitness.
First-choice goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has joined Milan Badelj, Junior Messias, Caleb Ekuban, Vitinha and Ruslan Malinovskyi in the treatment room, while midfielder Morten Frendrup is still hampered by a calf problem.
Belgian centre-back Koni De Winter picked up a muscular injury while on international duty, so Alessandro Vogliacco is set for a return to the hosts' starting lineup; recent free-transfer signing Gaston Pereiro will most likely take a place on the bench.
By contrast, Bologna's options have been improved by Jhon Lucumi's return from suspension and Tommaso Pobega rejoining the squad following a knee injury.
Scotland international Lewis Ferguson (ACL), Nicolo Cambiaghi (knee) and Oussama El Azzouzi (hernia) are still sidelined, though Ferguson is targeting a comeback within the next few weeks.
Up front, Thijs Dallinga will vie for selection with teenage striker Santiago Castro, the latter of whom has been directly involved in four goals in his last four Serie A matches.
Meanwhile, captain Riccardo Orsolini aims to end two droughts: the Italy winger has played eight league games against Genoa without recording a single goal involvement, while his last away strike in Serie A dates back to January.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; Vogliacco, Bani, Vasquez; Zanoli, Thorsby, Bohinen, Frendrup, Martin; Miretti; Pinamonti
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Erlic, Miranda; Freuler, Aebischer; Orsolini, Fabbian, Ndoye; Castro
We say: Genoa 0-1 Bologna
Genoa (60%) and Bologna (43%) top the list for highest percentage of goals scored during the final 15 minutes this season, so a late winner could decide what is sure to be a close-fought contest.
Momentum is going against the hosts and their head coach Alberto Gilardino, who will be left fearing for his seat in the Stadio Ferraris dugout after another defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
