Just three days after their shattering 4-3 defeat against Lazio, Marco Giampaolo's troubled Torino travel to Genoa on Wednesday night, in dire need of a first Serie A win of the season.
The fixture was initially scheduled for the start of October but due to a severe COVID-19 outbreak at Genoa, which struck 17 players and five members of staff, had to be postponed.
Match preview
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Only last Thursday, just in advance of the derby clash with Sampdoria, were Genoa able to announce they were finally virus-free, after the last of those squad members tested negative.
Following goalkeeper Mattia Perin's positive result the day before their humbling 6-0 defeat to Napoli on September 27, a series of first-team players tested positive - but all have now been given the all-clear.
Genoa's 1-1 Derby della Lanterna draw with city rivals Sampdoria at the weekend leaves the Grifone 15th in the table and - along with Verona - they have scored the fewest goals in the division so far. Gianluca Scamacca's well-taken equaliser - his first ever Serie A goal - was just Genoa's fifth in their five league games to date.
They come up against their bogey team on Wednesday, as Torino have won their last five Serie A matches versus the hosts - three of which were at the Marassi - equalling their longest winning streak in the competition against the Rossoblu, which came between 1977 and 1982. Not only that, but Genoa have also failed to even score in each of the last three games between the sides.
Fortunately for Rolando Maran's charges, Torino are already on the precipice of a crisis, having managed just one point in five Serie A games.
They somehow contrived to let slip a 3-2 lead at home to Lazio on Sunday; after taking the lead in the 87th minute, an extraordinary collapse saw the Granata concede two stoppage-time goals to miss out on even a point.
Felipe Caicedo's late Lazio winner came as the clock ticked towards the 100th minute and was a dagger through the heart of an increasingly embattled Marco Giampaolo.
Reports from Italy have claimed that the coach - who afterwards criticised his team's mental aptitude and stated that they would "need an exorcist" to help them recover - met with the club's directors at the end of the game.
The Toro board is now reportedly considering the future of the former Sampdoria and Milan boss, whose spell in charge at San Siro was both brief and terribly unsuccessful. This trip to Genoa, quickly followed by a clash with fellow strugglers Crotone next Sunday, will be pivotal in deciding whether he stays or goes.
A solitary ray of hope for Giampaolo had been the continued prowess of his star centre-forward. Andrea Belotti (with six) equalled the most goals for Torino after the first five games of any Serie A season, being the chief contributor to a healthy team tally of 10.
However the Azzurri striker took a heavy blow to his right knee and had to come off after 77 minutes against Lazio. Club medical staff later confirmed that the injury could rule him out of the crucial upcoming games against Torino's bottom-half rivals.
Genoa Serie A form: WLDLD
Genoa form (all competitions): WLDLWD
Torino Serie A form: LLLDL
Torino form (all competitions): LLLDWL
Team News
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Genoa coach Maran is expected to consider resting veteran forward Goran Pandev, with Marko Pjaca set to deputise alongside Gianluca Scamacca, who will be buoyed by his first top-flight goal.
On-loan Davide Zappacosta will miss out again for the hosts due to a thigh strain. Uzbek forward Eldor Shomurodov and skipper Domenico Criscito are also doubtful.
Mattia Bani and Luca Pellegrini returned to the bench for the derby, but Stefano Sturaro has not completed his recovery from a thigh injury.
For the visitors, Simone Zaza, Armando Izzo and Daniele Baselli were missing on Sunday and are not likely to be ready in midweek, so Sasa Lukic - scorer of the third goal versus Lazio - may continue in the trequartista role.
Federico Bonazzoli will lead Torino attack by necessity, as injured star man Belotti sits out.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Perin; Biraschi, Goldaniga, Zapata, Pellegrini; Lerager, Behrami, Rovella; Zajc; Pjaca, Scamacca
Torino possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Vojvoda, Bremer, Lyanco, Rodriguez; Meite, Rincon, Linetty; Lukic; Verdi, Bonazzoli
We say: Genoa 1-1 Torino
Will Belotti's injury provide a fatal blow to Marco Giampaolo's prospects of job retention? Quite possibly, as without the sharp-shooting 'Rooster' an already struggling Torino will be short of firepower.
Genoa can take at least a point against their bogey side, as a hard-fought draw in the derby and the squad's return to something like full strength should provide sufficient impetus.
