Roma will look to continue their dominance of Genoa when they visit them in the Serie A on Thursday. Genoa lost to Lecce and only has four points after the Giallorossi lost a late equalizer against Torino.
Preview (Genoa vs. Roma)
Romelu Lukaku’s third goal in three games since making his debut was not enough to keep Roma ahead. Duvan Zapata scored late, and Roma was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Torino on Sunday night. Because of this, Jose Mourinho’s team has only collected five points during the first five games. It is equal to Roma’s poorest record at this point in the century (equal to 2004, 2010, and 2018). However, they are once again under the microscope and cannot afford to make another mistake.
Before returning to European competition, Roma will play two promoted teams, Genoa and Frosinone. The visitors on Thursday have now won just one of their previous 11 away Serie A games. However, they returned from each of their last three trips to Genoa with the maximum number of points. They have the opportunity to become the first team to win four straight games at Marassi. Genoa has lost 12 times and kept one clean sheet in Roma’s past 16 Serie A contests.
The only other shutout occurred in the teams’ most recent meeting, a scoreless draw in February 2022. It was just before the Grifone entered Serie B through the back door. Genoa finished second to Frosinone last season, helping them advance from the second division at the first attempt. However, they have only won one of their first five league games, and after their most recent 1-0 defeat in Lecce, they have four points. Dangerously, Roma and Milan are up next at Marassi. Early indications suggest that Gilardino may be in for a relegation battle with Genoa. They have the fewest shots (32) and lowest possession share (34.8%) in Italy’s top division this season. This is especially true if he cannot secure any home victories soon.
Team News
After missing three games due to a muscle issue, Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini should be available to Jose Mourinho in midweek, though he might start on the bench rather than in the visitors’ midfield. Renato Sanches and Chris Smalling, who are still recovering from thigh problems, are still seated alongside long-term absentees Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla. Given a busy schedule and his attackers’ history of fitness issues, Mourinho may opt to rotate, but Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku might be paired up front. More Serie A goals have been scored by Dybala (nine in 13 games) than Genoa (ten), while Lukaku has been personally involved in eight (six goals, two assists).
Junior Messias, a Brazilian winger on loan from Milan who has yet to play for the Grifone because of an ankle injury, might make his Genoa debut. Since Aaron Martin was given a red card against Lecce and now needs to serve a suspension, Alberto Gilardino will make at least one change from the lineup that began the loss at Via del Mare last week. Johan Vazquez replaces Martin at left-back. Radu Dragusin, a defender for Genoa, has made the most clearances in Serie A through five rounds (31) and has registered the joint-most headed clearances (15 apiece), which speaks everything about Genoa’s troubles thus far this season. They both intend to begin in the visitors’ back four. The Coppa Italia victory was their most recent triumph at Marassi, and the wait will undoubtedly continue.
Genoa 0 – 1 Roma
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