Three to Watch: New stars must step up for Genoa following departures

Roma kick-off 2017 in Liguria on Sunday afternoon, as they face Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Despite the usual pre-match injury and fitness concerns, the Giallorossi will be feeling confident ahead of the match - considering the Griffoni have achieved just one win in their last five matches.

What is more, so far the January transfer window has only seen Genoa weakened - with combative midfielder Tomas Rincon joining Juventus, and powerful striker Leonardo Pavoletti heading for Napoli.

However, with coach Ivan Juric likely to have a few tricks up his sleeve, and plenty of players out to take advantage of the opportunities created by those departures, our columnist believes these three players will be particularly key to the the former Croatian international’s hopes of spoiling the Giallorossi start to the New Year…

Diego Laxalt

Genoa’s greatest prospect, the 23-year-old Uruguayan has improved exponentially in midfield in recent months.

A fast player with significant endurance, the Uruguayan has been almost an ever-present with 19 starts this season – all of them coming from the left-hand side.

Such faith from his coach has been repaid with one goal scored and two assists created.

Defensively, his figures have been impressive across the board – with over two clearances, and one-and-a-half tackles and interceptions each per match.

First rising to prominence during his commanding display at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Laxalt originally began his career as an attacking midfielder, but has since been deployed as a left-winger due to his versatility.

Roma’s right flank will be sure to face an athletic challenge against this adversary.

Giovanni Simeone

Son of esteemed “El Cholo” Diego Simeone, the current head coach at Atletico Madrid, Simeone’s youth career began at River Plate, following his father’s appointment as first-team manager.

21 years old, Simeone has all the makings to become a top forward – a strong finisher, aerial precision, and an avid drive to win back the ball.

In his first full season in Italy he leads the Rossoblu in goals – having scored seven between all competitions – while also having registered an assist.

With almost two bad touches per match though, the young forward shows that he is still raw and can improve in important areas.

Nevertheless, a watchful eye on the spritely player will be needed to limit the success of the ex-Lazio hero’s son – who already has a brace against Juventus to his name this season.

Mattia Perin

The goalkeeper may have flown under the radar slightly since the emergence of AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Perin remains one of the most promising prospects in Italian football.

Still only 24 - yet approaching 100 league games for Genoa (and nearly 200 in total in his career) - the once-capped Italy international has established himself as a reliable performer for his club.

Gifted with impressive reflexes and a strong command of his area, Perin is a formidable last line of defence that Roma’s attackers will have to do well to beat at the Marassi.