Genoa play host to Venezia on Sunday afternoon with just one point separating the two clubs in the Serie A standings.
While the home side have not won a league fixture since September 12, the visitors have suffered back-to-back defeats in quick succession.
Match preview
Davide Ballardini will have few complaints with his team's attacking play this season, Genoa netting 15 times from their 10 fixtures.
However, recording too many draws has prevented them from progressing up the table, the latest coming away at relegation rivals Spezia with Genoa having to rely on an 86th-minute penalty.
The result marked the fourth time in six games that they have come from a losing position to earn a share of the spoils, a positive or negative trait depending on your interpretation.
Nevertheless, collecting just seven points from over a quarter of their fixtures has led to considerable frustration at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium ahead of two winnable games with Venezia and Empoli.
At a time when they are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season, Mattia Destro has scored five goals from as many outings since September 21.
As far as Venezia are concerned, they are still reeling from the bizarre sending-off of Ethan Ampadu against Salernitana, the decision ultimately leading to a potentially-important defeat.
With the scoreline locked at 1-1 heading into the final quarter, Ampadu made a clean tackle to prevent an opposition player running through on goal, only to be handed a red card by the referee and the call remarkably being backed up by VAR.
The aftermath has continued with Venezia not shy in showing their anger on social media, but Paolo Zanetti has got to get his squad's minds back on their upcoming encounter as they bid to move clear of the drop zone.
Although a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina is still fresh in the memory, Zanetti is aware that his side cannot continue to boast the division's worst attack if they want to make progress up the table.
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- L
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- W
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Team News
On the back of second-half appearances at Spezia, Davide Biraschi and Stefano Sturaro will expect to come into the Genoa XI.
Andrea Cambiaso and Valon Behrami, who made his first start of the season in midweek, may drop down to the substitutes' bench.
The likes of Goran Pandev and Felipe Caicedo will likely have to make do with a spot among the replacements.
With Ampadu's dismissal coming after he had been introduced at half time, there is scope for Zanetti to name an unchanged Venezia side.
Much will depend on whether Zanetti wishes to stick with a back four, but Michael Svoboda is on standby if he switches to a defensive three.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Biraschi, Masiello, Vasquez, Criscito; Sturaro, Badelj, Rovella; Kallon, Destro, Ekuban
Venezia possible starting lineup:
Romero; Mazzocchi, Caldara, Ceccaroni, Molinaro; Crnigoj, Busio, Kiyine; Okereke, Forte, Aramu
We say: Genoa 2-1 Venezia
While less time has passed since Venezia's last victory, we cannot ignore the amount of draws that have been recorded by Genoa. With that in mind, we are backing the home side to finally get back on track on Sunday, edging this contest by the odd goal in three.
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