Serie A Preview: Juventus Travel To Take on Genoa at Fortress Marassi

We’re four rounds into the new campaign and only Juventus alongside high-flying Sampdoria have managed to maintain their hundred per cent record.

In week five’s most stand-out encounter, Ciro Ferrara’s men travel to the Marassi for a tricky away fixture against a Genoa-side that has just been humbled away from home by relegation candidates Chievo by a 3-1 scoreline.

Gian Piero Gasperini and five of his players all have pasts in the Juventus jersey which alongside the defeat against Chievo will serve as extra motivation as they seek to put an end to the Bianconeri’s impressive run in what is expected to be an intense affair.

Genoa

After three successive wins against Roma, Atalanta and Napoli—followed by a midweek triumph over Slavia Prague in the Europa League—Il Grifone finally succumbed to Chievo as coach Gian Piero Gasperini rested a few of the regulars at the Bentigode due to the tough gaming schedule.

The visitors were already two goals down less than 10 minutes into the game and struggled to make an impact. Despite Gasperini throwing in both Giuseppe Sculli and Marco Rossi on the wings at the interval, Sergio Floccari only managed to put one away after a Mario Yepes howler resulting in a spot kick for the Rossoblu.

Just as the Genoa-players were piling on the pressure the home side’s Sergio Pellissier added a third for his team. The visiting side was awarded a second spot-kick in the stoppages after Sculli went down in the penalty but this time around Floccari got to see his shot saved by Stefano Sorrentino.

The Genoa tactician will be without the services of the sidelined Bosko Jankovic and Domenico Criscito who is set to sit out the second of his two-match ban.

Gasperini alongside Raffaele Palladino, Giuseppe Sculli, Omar Milanetto, Domenico Criscito and Emiliano Moretti all have a past with the opponents at one time or another and will be extra motivated to repeat the 3-2 triumph from their last encounter.

Genoa are looking to get back to winning ways and considering the fact that they lost only twice at home last season it clearly speaks of just how strong Il Grifone are at the fortress Marassi.

Possible starting XI (3-4-3) according to the Gazzetta: Amelia; Biava, Moretti, Bocchetti; Rossi, Milanetto, Zapater, Mesto; Palacio, Crespo, Sculli

Juventus

Juventus are desperate to add to their impressive runt but as Ciro Ferrara and his men travel to the Marassi to take on Genoa they’re perfect record could come to a quick finish.

After the midweek disappointment against Bordeaux in the Champions League the team was looking to quickly bounce back. They were in for a tough game as newcomers Livorno who are most likely fight for survival during the entirety of the season came to visit the Olimpico.

In the end the home side walked away from the clash with a 2-0 victory after a brilliant Mauro Camoranesi served both Vincenzo Iaquinta and Claudio Marchiso.

Livorno was, however, refusing to throw in the towel and it was mostly down to Gianluigi Buffon’s parade of wonder-saves that ultimately gave Ferrara’s men another three points.

The Italy shotstopper have finally put eight months of “torture” behind him and has once more claimed the spot as the world’s number one—and in doing so also been one of the league’s, if not the world’s most consistent players as of lately.

After last season’s injury crisis Juventus are no strangers to having players ruled out. Although the team has been suffering from injuries lately, most notably on Diego, the Brazilian fantasista hopes to make it to the Genoa clash.

Felipe Melo will be ready for the game whereas Ferrara is expected to make a last-minute decision for his fellow countryman, Diego. Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero has still not shaken off his injury woes quite yet and joins the sidelined Tiago, Hasan Salihamidzic, Fabio Cannavaro and Mohamed Sissoko.

Possible starting XI (4-3-1-2) according to the Gazzetta: Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Camoranesi, Felipe Melo, Marchisio; Diego; Amauri, Iaquinta