View From the Opposition: The quickfire scouting report on Genoa

We asked the editor of Ligurian daily Il Secolo XIX Andrea Schiappapietra to tell us how Genoa come into the match against Roma after a change in coach - and how they might line up at Marassi...

What’s changed about Genoa compared with last season and what are their targets for this term?

“Not a lot because the Rossoblu began the season thinking they’d sorted out the issues from last season with a few changes this summer. That ultimately wasn’t the case given the side have only taken nine points from their first 13 matches.

Giovanni Simeone departed, with Gianluca Lapadula replacing him, while the return of Andrea Bertolacci from AC Milan was a big boost. Nicolas Burdisso left the club, with Nicolas Spolli, Luca Rossettini and Ervin Zukanovic all joining at the back. These changes haven’t had an immediate impact given the team’s wretched start.

There has been an upturn in fortunes since Davide Ballardini replaced Ivan Juric at the start of November. The new coach won his opening game at Crotone and has brought in players with a different mindset. The team no longer looks to take the game to the opposition and boss proceedings. The focus now is on getting points on the board. The team are now thinking like a side aiming to beat the drop.”

How will Ballardini set his team up on Sunday?

“There are still a number of doubts about the starting line-up because we’re not sure whether he’ll go with the 3-5-2 we saw at Crotone again.

If he sticks with that shape, the side will be: Mattia Perin in goal, Armando Izzo, Spolli and Zukanovic at the back, Aleandro Rosi, Luca Rigoni, Miguel Veloso, Bertolacci and Diego Laxalt in midfield, with Adel Taarabt up front alongside either Goran Pandev or Lapadula.

Ballardini could however go with a back four to counteract the Giallorossi front line. In which case it could be a 4-3-3 as follows: Perin; Izzo, Spolli, Zukanovic, Laxalt; Rigoni, Veloso, Bertolacci; Taarabt, Lapadula, Lazovic.”

Who will Genoa’s key man be against Roma?

“Based on his performance at Crotone, Adel Taarabt is Genoa’s most in-form player. He could be a threat if he plays up front alongside Pandev in a 3-5-2 as he did in Calabria last week. He and the former Lazio forward make up a very technical front pairing. They play a lot of one-touch football and are hard for the opposition defence to pick up.”

Which Roma player would you prefer not to play against?

“The Giallorossi midfield is very impressive and Radja Nainggolan has always been a thorn in Genoa’s side. We know all about Diego Perotti’s ability here in Genoa and he’s added more goals to his game since joining Roma. He could also cause real problems for Ballardini’s men.”