Both averaging under one point per game this season, Serie A strugglers Genoa and Como will convene at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Thursday evening.

A late goal saw the Grifone secure just their second league win earlier this week, while Como continued to falter, losing for the fourth time in five outings.

Match preview

Monday night's Serie A action brought together promoted Parma and rock-bottom Genoa, and with neither side having won a single game since August, the stakes were particularly high at Stadio Tardini.

Just as it seemed the contest was heading for a grim goalless draw, the Grifone's star man Andrea Pinamonti popped up with an 80th-minute winner, bringing them level with their hosts in the standings.

There was even an opportunity for under-fire boss Alberto Gilardino to hand a late debut to much-travelled striker Mario Balotelli, who arrived in Liguria as a free agent last week.

Now out of the drop zone and onto nine points, Genoa - who finished safely in mid-table on their top-flight comeback last term - will try to pull further clear of danger by producing a first league win at Marassi.

They remain one of only two Serie A sides yet to taste success in front of their own fans, along with Monza, and Gilardino will be desperate to end that drought on Thursday.

While injury-hit Genoa stuck with most of their starting XI from last week's loss to Fiorentina, Cesc Fabregas opted to make numerous changes on Monday evening, when Como travelled to Empoli.

However, that choice ultimately backfired, as his team dominated possession - ending the game with a 60% share of the ball - but only produced two shots on target at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

After suffering a tame 1-0 defeat, the Lariani have now collected just one point from their last five matches, and they remain winless since posting consecutive victories over Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona in September.

As Como have conceded 22 times so far, at a rate of two goals per game - only Verona have a worse record - it is clear that Fabregas some defensive issues to fix; continuing at that rate could see the Lombardy club head straight back down to Serie B.

No fewer than seven teams are separated by just one point at the foot of the table, though, so it could be a close-fought scrap over the months ahead.

Team News

With his squad ravaged by injury, Alberto Gilardino made just one change on Monday evening, as Alessandro Zanoli replaced Stefano Sabelli on Genoa's right flank.

It may be a similar starting XI against Como, too, as a packed treatment room features first-choice goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, Mattia Bani, Junior Messias, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Koni De Winter, Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Vitinha.

Caleb Ekuban and Mario Balotelli are also short of fitness, so Andrea Pinamonti may again be partnered by teenage striker Jeff Ekhator. With his decisive strike earlier this week, Pinamonti moved onto four league goals - just one fewer than throughout his previous season at Marassi in 2019-20.

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas will revert to his strongest side after resting key men such as Nico Paz, Patrick Cutrone and Emil Audero last time out. Lucas Da Cunha, Andrea Belotti and Pepe Reina should therefore drop down to the bench.

Already without the services of Sergi Roberto and Belgian full-back Ignace Van der Brempt due to thigh injuries, Como could also be missing Luca Mazzitelli (calf) and Manchester City loanee Maximo Perrone (muscular).

That would leave a hole to fill in midfield, though Matthias Braunoder is now back from a ban and should start in the visitors' engine room.

Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; Matturro, Vogliacco, Vasquez; Sabelli, Thorsby, Badelj, Frendrup, Martin; Ekhator, Pinamonti

Como possible starting lineup:
Audero; Goldaniga, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno; Engelhardt, Braunoder; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone

We say: Genoa 1-0 Como

It may not be pretty, but Genoa can scrap their way to six points from six against two promoted sides this week, thereby prolonging Como's misery.

The Grifone showed some spirit to win in Parma, while their visitors remain a work in progress, so the long-suffering faithful at Stadio Luigi Ferraris should finally be rewarded.


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